He does not have an easy mission. With a quarter less of the budget and with a schedule that does not let up, Roger Grimau (Barcelona, ??1978) continues to try to shape the biggest challenge of his career and manufacture a winning Barça. It’s not being simple. Many changes and little time to assimilate them. On and off the floor, because the character of the new coach has nothing to do with that of his predecessor. Grimau makes his Euroleague debut tonight against Anadolu Efes (8:30 p.m.). Another trial by fire after having already contested two classics.
How is the dressing room after the defeat against Real Madrid?
Defeats are always fucked up and hard to assimilate.
Has the classic arrived too soon?
There is a context that nuances the result but, obviously, there are many new things and winning would give us a point of peace of mind. But we are on the right track.
What is missing from the team, at this start?
A bit solid at certain times. When we have a few minutes where we are not good we get too much punishment. And, when we are good, we don’t end up punishing the opponent.
With so many changes in the summer, were you ready for a tricky start?
A three-week preseason is not the ideal situation to hang out and mature all the new concepts, no matter how good the players are. We are at that point of fermentation of the grapes to make a good wine, but the schedule is what it is and you have to face it.
Would you understand that there were nerves in the environment so soon?
I left social media a long time ago, before I was coach of Barça, so I’m quite shielded and I don’t get a lot of things. But I’m from here and I know how everything works, despite the fact that I don’t know if we should be at this point of drama after three league games. But I’m not surprised either.
Did you expect that coaching Barça would be the way it is?
In life I get used to putting myself in the most critical situations to be prepared and face whatever comes. It’s obviously a 24/7 job. But it’s what I wanted.
Does what he is seeing make him optimistic?
I’m optimistic in life and I think that when we all take the automatisms we’re looking for, things will be fun. Maybe it’s true that my way of working is a little slower, but I’m sure that once you internalize what we work on, things will go well.
Does he mean that he has a calm character, which has nothing to do with that of Jasikevicius, for example?
(laughs) I didn’t expect this question.
It was inevitable. But you are a quiet person, aren’t you?
Yes. It’s not that I train this way, it’s that this is how I am in life and I like to be this way. I wouldn’t know how to do it any other way, it would surely go wrong. I have raised my children this way and I am delighted with it. My son is already 18 years old and is caring and responsible. If I was able to do this with my children, why shouldn’t I be able to do the same in other aspects of life?
Said like that, it seems hard to argue with him…
Well, that doesn’t mean that suddenly there can’t be bad milk, or there can be a booing. If you ask my children, they will confirm it, as is normal, but all things must be in their right measure. And I am absolutely convinced that it can work very well this way.
Do you understand that it is difficult for the players to adapt to such an abrupt change of doing things?
It must have shocked them. When you’re used to one boss and another one comes along that works completely differently, it’s normal. It is a process and we all have to adapt to it.
How is it done?
I still don’t know my players and they don’t know me either, we’re still getting to know each other. They need to know what a silence means, which sometimes has much more force than a shout, or what a look means. These are things we will all learn. It will be a little slower this way but you have to act on what you believe.
Do you feel a special pressure to have inherited a La Liga champion team?
No, it is something that is inherent in the position. And there is no one around me who puts more pressure on me than I do. There is no one more demanding and more self-critical of myself than I am.
Do you feel bad when you lose?
I beat myself up a lot with defeats because in the end I am the most responsible for the team. When things aren’t going well who will people look to is me.
Sounds a bit like flogging…
There’s a point where you cross a line and it’s not good, it’s something that used to happen to me more. I think now I’m more in the line of balance.
Do you have a hard time sleeping after games?
In general, I don’t sleep much but it’s not something that’s due to being a Barça coach, it comes from before and I don’t know if I’ll be able to fix it one day.
How are the new signings being integrated?
I think pretty good. It helps quite a bit that most of them know each other from the selection. But we are in that maturation process, we still need to meet each other.
Willy Hernangómez seems to be struggling a bit…
I’m not worried at all. We signed him to play an important role. He comes from outside and is still getting to know his teammates.
The fans also expect a lot from Jabari Parker, a number two pick in the draft.
He is a very attentive boy. He always listens carefully and we do a lot of individualized videos for him. If there is something he does not understand, he asks and tries to assimilate it, to apply it immediately the next day. You can tell he wants to adapt and we are trying to find him a place. This is my job.
