Pep Guardiola hails retiring Pique as “a player for the big games”

revealed on Thursday night that he has decided to end his career during the season and Saturday’s game with Almeria will be his last game as a player. The retirement of

’s icon has been among the hot topics during the past few days as many believe one of the great players of his time is retiring.

The former Blaugrana boss,

, praised the 35-year-old ahead of

's Premier League clash against Fulham. During his press conference he said:

"It was surprising news.

"After making an incredible career in Barcelona, I wish him personally all the best for him and his family.

"He was a player for the big games, never once missing or behave [badly] or have a performance not in the highest level. That is what all the big clubs need, these kind of players.

"He won everything for Barcelona and Spain. The time arrives, the future will be bright, he's a smart guy.

"It was an honour for me personally to be his manager, and we spent an incredible four years together."

However, the

Citizens

' boss refused to draw a comparison between Pique and any Man City player.

"[It is] not about comparing, when you compare these things, someone is damaged,"

he said.

"If you ask me my best full-back as manager, it would be unfair because everyone is everyone.

"All I will say is Gerard is a happy man in his life, he said in the video perfectly 'I don't want to be a football player, I want to be a Barcelona player'. It was his dream and his dream came true.

"Being there In the tough moments, the big important games, final of the Champions League or World Cup finals, derbies against [Real] Madrid, Atletico, Sevilla, Espanyol, always [he] was there.

"Of course his career had ups and downs, every player is like that. We knew in the locker room how his personality was important and in the big games always was the best."

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