Giving your bitter rival a Guard of Honor is a matter of respect, and former striker Fernando Morientes is not happy with Barcelona's decision not to do one for Los Blancos prior to Saturday's El Clásico.
Speaking in an interview with Marca, the former Liverpool and Valencia player hinted that Barcelona should do the right thing and acknowledge Real Madrid's recent Club World Cup win.
"I think it's one of those unwritten laws. You're not forced to do it, but it's a matter of elegance and respect. It's a good example for our kids. If Real Madrid was the team 'forced' to do it, I'd say the same thing. There's a big rivalry, but we have to set an example for our next generations. That handshake before the game is relevant," Morientes stated.
The former Real Madrid player went on to praise Ernesto Valverde, Barcelona's coach, for the impressive season the team has put together.
"Valverde deserves to take most of the credit. We all thought that Barça would suffer after Neymar's departure, because they were more threatening with him on the pitch. But Valverde started testing his players, then placed them together to work as a unit. Their excellent season has much to do with their coach's massive work," the former striker added.
Morientes admitted that, if Real Madrid loses next Saturday, their chances of winning La Liga would be very slim.
"Real Madrid need to do whatever it takes to win. They have to go out there with that in mind, because a win for Barcelona would complicate their chances. You can always cut their lead, but it's really important to get to the final stage of the competition with real options," Morientes concluded.
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