The captain of Barça, Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas (Toledo, 32 years old) is a true classic. In the first team since 2009 (except for his three loan seasons, 2011-14), Gonchi has become one of the pillars, and in the Champions League, one of the proper names: this final four will be the 8th for the goalkeeper, equaling Ilic and Karabatic, and only one from Pálmarsson (9). His great form is one of Barça’s weapons to win what would be their 12th Champions League. The captain attended La Vanguardia before traveling to Colonia.
His eighth final four. He could lift the fifth Champions League. If it was already almost impossible to win two in a row, what would it mean to win the third in a row?
It is an even bigger challenge. We know that in the recent past we have made history, but we have the chance to make it bigger. It is not an obsession, because after winning two in a row no one can demand another one from us. Nothing is mathematical. We have made enough merits not to go to Cologne to play it all or nothing. The season has been very, very good. We have the means to show that we are the best again, we have a very compact team, with players at the peak of their careers, and we hope to be able to make a great final four.
How has last year’s team, which was consolidating with Ortega, changed to this one?
The longer you train with a technician, the better you understand each other, everything is automated. Winning the Champions League last year gave us all confidence, the team and Carlos, towards himself, towards his staff and towards us. That confidence allows you to work in a more stable environment and has made us hungry to continue winning.
After an excellent season, 15 wins and a draw, they meet Magdeburg in the semifinals, the only team that has beaten them this year, and they have done so two years in a row. Do they like them?
Yes, but also a lot of respect. He has had a great competition, he knows very well what he is playing, he has a very stable group, with players who have been in the project for a long time. More than sports revenge, we want to show that we are the best once again.
Why is the Magdeburg choking them so much?
He is one of the best in the Champions League in the last 2-3 years, and due to his way of playing, he does so at a level very similar to ours; it is very competitive. They have a different front line than what other teams are looking for, with fewer kilos and fewer centimeters, but very good one-on-one, with scoring ability. We feel more comfortable defending bigger players, with a lot of power but less skilled one on one. It is a very well worked and structured team, with the precise pieces to play that way. It has proven to be very reliable.
One of the keys to the final four is that the goal is in good shape in both games. Barça have one of the best couples: you and Emil Nielsen are the third and fourth most efficient goalkeepers (31.1%, behind Thulin and Wolff)…
We have proven to be a very solid couple. When one has not been at the level, normally the teammate has responded and that gives confidence to everyone, to the team and to us. We know that we are decisive and we will try to maintain the line of this season.
In the days leading up to this final four, it has been leaked that Kiel wants to sign him when his contract ends, in 2025. Can you commit to staying at Barça?
I couldn’t tell you. I have a valid contract until 2025, we are seeing some seasons with a lot of movement at Barça, my intention has always been to stay in Barcelona, ??but there is a long way to go, we have a very important objective, and then we will see.
What will it depend on to continue?
Of many things. We are in a professional sport, you have to value everything, not just stay or go to Kiel or another team. Knowing that I have a current contract, the situation is clearer for the near future. Time will tell…
¿Se ve de blaugrana en 2026?
I cannot guarantee anything because there is nothing closed, neither on one side nor on the other. Talking now about what might happen in 2025 is a waste of time.
In this Barça of cuts in the sections, would winning a third Champions League in a row be a claim to the club that it should believe in handball?
We don’t need to win another Champions League to give the club one more reason. The club’s situation is not ideal for any section, but I don’t think we deserve that kind of pressure, nor do I think a win in Cologne will change the club’s plans; They are strategic plans and we must adapt.
