Joan Laporta, the president of FC Barcelona, ??was satisfied with the management of his board of directors at the head of the club, although he admitted the “difficult moment” that the football team, third in the League, is experiencing, out of the fight for the title that Girona and Real Madrid maintain.
In the traditional Christmas meeting with the media, Joan Laporta addressed the professionals who follow the club’s news in a critical and also grateful way.
“Praise is well received, especially those directed at the players and the coach. We also accept criticism as long as it is objective and as long as it comes from good journalistic practice; we hope it will help us improve.”
“I can only say to critical journalism that we are even more self-critical of ourselves. Complacency is the worst enemy of success. We try with our actions to change minds and move from fierce criticism to a criticism that can be more objective “he commented.
“I have seen a lot of understanding [in the media], you have helped us. I have seen that you work thinking about what is best for Barça. This message of looking forward, of getting out of the hole, has arrived. You have understood it because you have to a culé inside and that is appreciated”, he praised the media seeking complicity.
“From the board of directors we want to seek the economic, sporting and institutional stability of the club. That is our objective. We are on the path to achieving it. If the budget is met this season we will meet the objective to begin to be in a more normal situation, desired for a long time,” he explained, regarding the evolution of the club’s delicate economy. “We only have ourselves, the Barcelona fans, the only ones we can trust,” he said. “In general I am satisfied with the path outlined towards the club’s recovery. We have worked titanicly to resurrect Barça.”
Laporta took advantage of the club’s economic improvement, although Barça is still in deep water, subject to the limitations of financial fair-play. “The situation was not easy. It is much better than what we had when we arrived. There are signs that it is positive.”
His intervention was expected regarding the moment of the football team led by Xavi Hernández, which has noticeably lowered its performance and is now third in the League.
“In the first team we are going through a difficult time. I agree with Xavi’s post-Mestalla analysis: we haven’t finished the games and we have to overcome that. Getting back players who make us have the ball will go well for us. It will be a Barça that will progress, better. I want to think that our direct rivals will also have a moment of downturn and that will coincide with a Barça that will be more consolidated and that will have already reached cruising speed,” he hoped about the possible setbacks of Girona, outstanding leader with 9 points over the Barça, and Real Madrid, second with 7 more points.
“In the League we are third and we cannot fail against Almería. It is not the desired situation. You are thinking about the time we will need to catch our rivals when before it was the other way around.”
The president referred to the recent draw for the Champions League round of 16, a round which he had not reached in the two previous editions. “It will be a great round of 16. Napoli has a very dangerous forward line;
He also commented that the next Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia could be a “turning point” as it was last year. “We hope that this year will be like that again. It will calm the mood of our squad. The bad streak is better that it happens now and not when the seasons are decided because the important thing is not how it starts but how it ends. We didn’t start well due to injuries, but we will progress well.
Laporta referred to the basketball section, where the board has introduced profound changes, with a new technical direction and a new coach. “Basketball has also changed a lot and I think we have gotten it right without detracting from our predecessors. Roger Grimau with his team has put together a team that is doing very well, we have a lot of confidence. We are on the right path in all sections, in We are all leaders in the League, except in basketball,” he said in general. “Handball has already accustomed us to this level, roller hockey is also on the right path, and futsal, the same. Women’s football continues with its successes and I hope it continues like this; as in handball, it does not mean make it easy”.
