I have nothing against Federer – he's my Idol

Gerard Piqué is a busy man. The professional football player and businessman commutes every day this week between Barcelona and Madrid. In the morning, Training with the FC Barcelona, then he flies in a private jet in the capital of the newly created Davis-Cup-final tournament of his cosmos-group. There, he is the host, Manager, representative and most prominent Fan. In spite of the crowded program, Laura Pérez de Mendiola, the Director of Communication of the cosmos promises that it will fold with the Interview with the 32-Year-old who splits the tennis world.

"Sometime in the afternoon," she says. "Be ready." She is constantly in contact with Piqué, several Attempts fail in the last Minute, because this is needed or someone that is important. At half past eleven o'clock in the evening, it works but still. Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal is sweating on the Court, has made it a Piqué in a room in the Caja Mágica on a chair comfortably. He is dressed in a chic suit and black shoes, with a white, slightly unbuttoned shirt. The hair is slightly disheveled after a long day, but he is still wide awake.

It must be a busy week. The recently, the story of your life?
(laughs) Oh, I like to be busy. Involved In projects to be, I think, are of concern to me. The Davis Cup is one of them. But of course, my main job is still to play football. That is why I train every day with my Club. And this is not just any Club, but FC Barcelona. We have on Saturday is a game we must win. Because we are expected to win every game. But in addition, there is still time for another. This is good for me.

you said to "El País", during the football world Cup in South Africa in 2010 had matured in the many free hours, the realization that you need more, play than soccer. Did you think to Tennis ?
Not specific to Tennis. I was me just be clear about that, I would like to work in the Sport. I understand this Business well. And in the meantime, I have a large network, I know the people who pull in the big sports and Clubs in the threads. After I looked at a lot of things, I had considered where I could make a difference, I ended up in the Davis Cup.

to revolutionize The Davis Cup, was pretty ambitious. You could not take otherwise a tournament?
I'm fascinated by that team competitions. Especially in Tennis, where the players play only for themselves. Here, you play for a Team, for your country. The is unique. Therefore, the Davis Cup appealed to me so much.

they were not received in the tennis world with open arms. How did you handle it?
I totally understand. For one, each represent in the world of tennis its own interests. On the other, the Davis Cup has a long Tradition. There is not, it is understandable that a lot of our way trust. Now we need to convince people of it. And when I see what is currently happening at the Center Court, encouraged me that we do the Right thing.

athlete, Businessman and commuting in a private jet: Gerard Piqué dressed to the nines in the Caja Mágica. Image:

If Spain plays, the stadium is full. In the case of other Teams, the spectators parade but it has been limited. How do you mobilize the people?
We knew the first year would be difficult. It takes time to convey to the people what is the new Format. In the first year, it is just important that everything works, we this week in the calendar to anchor. We have worked very hard. The more people know about this competition, the more will come. I am sure that in two, three years, a lot more Fans to the venue will be traveling that every day we will have full stadiums.

you are polarize accustomed to, even in the national team booed. Do you mind to be in Tennis for many a charming figure?
I don't want that everybody likes me. That's not the point. Otherwise, I would say only what people want to hear. So, I'm not. I always say what I think. But I respect the opinions of others. I expect, however, that I'm respected. I invest a lot of time in the Davis Cup, make many sacrifices. But I would like to do, because I believe in it. After this week, we will be better than before. And next year will be even better. We are constantly Learning.

"If a tennis player would invest in the game of football, I would stretch out my arms and help him."

for the benefit of you as a Businessman are the qualities of your athlete's life?
of Course. It is criticized that I had entered as a footballer to Tennis. But I think it is much better when an athlete engaged in the Sport as a Businessman who only sees Profit. I understand the players. I know what you need to feel comfortable in a tournament. If a tennis player would invest in the game of football, I would stretch out my arms and help him.

What is your Vision for the Davis Cup? He should be held to a fixed place or in different locations?
We believe that it is right to proceed with the competition at different places. The Davis Cup is part of the regional associations. Therefore, this should be able to also benefit from it. He must travel, should take place in Asia, in North America, in South America. And of course we want to, that he is much bigger. We believe, therefore, that a Deal with the ATP would make sense. It would be better for the Sport, if only there was a team competition and not two. We are ready, with the help of ATP and sit. Now, as she gets a new President (Andrea Gaudenzi), we will do that. Because it was not difficult this year, because the Position of the outgoing President (Chris Kermode) is really clear.

specifically, This means you want to merge the Davis Cup final tournament, and the newly created ATP-Cup?
We want to sit with the ATP and to find a solution. I don't know how they will exactly look like. We are open. But we need to talk.

Roger Federer is in Madrid at the Start. Of Piqué's reform plans, he is not thrilled.

Speaking of talk: Why Roger had Federer and you are such a bad Start?
I met a couple of Times with his agent (Tony Godsick) and actually had the feeling that the relationship was good. Perhaps there were misunderstandings. You see the Davis Cup, perhaps as a competitor to your Laver-Cup. I don't think so. The Davis Cup has a 119-year history, the Laver Cup is a great Exhibition, it's been three years. I have nothing against Federer, on the contrary. He is one of my idols. But in Tennis, many interests in play. That doesn't make it easy sometimes.

you said recently that of the cosmos, much more was to be expected, also in other sports. What exactly is it?
There are a lot of competitions in different sports, which are very rust of age and also something, because they have not changed. By modernized, you can make them bigger. Even if the some of the hurt. And we want to be involved with the cosmos even in Clubs – whether that's in football or in Basketball.

your relationship to Tennis is?
My father took me as a small Boy to the tournament in Barcelona, I was early fascinated by Tennis and played himself. But I came to a point where I had to me, between football and Tennis to decide. I chose soccer. This was not a bad decision.

you Were also in Tennis, right?
I would like to think that I would have been in the Tennis good. But maybe that's an Illusion. I games today, but I'm rarely on this.

her two sons play football, not Tennis?
The Larger is more of a football player. The Younger the Tennis like better. But you are still young.

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Created: 20.11.2019, 20:11 PM