Gerard Pique has broken ranks at Barcelona calling for more humility after last season's Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.

Pique's teammates have offered excuses since the semifinal humiliation.

But the former Manchester United defender insisted: "They came into the game in strong form and we weren't one hundred per cent with Messi not fully fit in the first leg and not playing at all in the second … But of course there are things to be learned. Barça can't lose a round 7-0, we know that and we have to improve …

"We have to run more, we have to make more of an effort on a group and individual level to get back to the top. This team has always fought hard and we have to keep doing that.

"We need to realise that we're not the best any more, and our challenge now is to get back to being the best."