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Gerard Pique has tried to rally the troops after Spain’s World Cup plans were rocked by the shock sacking of coach Julen Lopetegui on Wednesday.
Lopetegui was dismissed after seemingly angering the Spanish Football Federation by agreeing to take on the Real Madrid job after the World Cup.
Spain have since confirmed that Fernando Hierro will take over for the World Cup and Pique has now had his say on Twitter.
Universidad de Michigan. Baloncesto. 1989. Campeón de la NCAA. No sería la primera vez que ocurre. Todos unidos, ahora más que nunca.
— Gerard Piqué (@3gerardpique) June 13, 2018
He wrote: “University of Michigan. Basketball. 1989. NCAA Champion. It wouldn’t be the first time it happened. All together, now more than ever.”
The Barca defender is referring to the NCAA Basketball finals in 1989 when Michigan coach Bill Frieder left his job two days before the team’s opening game to join Arizona State.
Michigan had apparently told Frieder “not to bother turning up” and he admitted his timing was poor, according to the New York Times.
Steve Fisher took over and of course Michigan went on to win the tournament. Spain’s story is pretty similar but we’ll have to wait and see if it has a happy ending too.