Barça closed their 11th participation in the final four in Cologne (of 14 editions) with a consolation bronze for third place, but with many uncertainties for the future of the team. Given the silence of the club -no person in charge of the section appeared, despite the request of the displaced media-, the coach Carlos Ortega had to act as spokesman on how the cuts will affect the preparation of the squad, the future of the team and two of the most thorny issues: the continuity or not of Luka Cindric and the possibility of the departure of captain Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas, with an offer from Kiel.
The Andalusian coach, a professional, did not shy away from any question, although he also pointed upwards so that those responsible “for the economy” respond.
The FC Barcelona board of directors announced the need for the sections to reduce their budgets by 15%. Ortega assures that they have not communicated anything to him, “but it is heard everywhere. Some person in charge has insinuated that there will be sales, but I think that the team that we think we will have will be competitive.”
And he added: “Let’s hope they don’t affect us. I want the best squad possible, but we are conditioned by the economic issue. I hope and wish that we touch the minimum. I hope we have the team that we think we will have to try to get to Cologne again… It may be more difficult, because the budget will drop somewhat and there are projects that are going up”
Luka Cindric, with two more years on his contract, did not reveal whether or not he will continue at the club, since the club has opened the door for him. “I have a contract,” said the Croatian central defender.
The coach from Málaga referred to Cindric’s continuity: “It’s not an issue that concerns me, I want the best squad possible, but we are conditioned by economic issues, and it’s not up to me. I’m sure I’ll know soon what I’m counting on. As a coach I want to have the best players and Luka is a great player.”
In the face of so much background noise in the days leading up to the final four in Cologne, Ortega believes that “the team has remained isolated, the Gonzalo thing hasn’t helped either. Here, if it’s not one thing, it’s another, there are always things. We have “We have to keep ourselves isolated. There are players who have a contract for next year, like Luis, and the uncle is restless and is doing his job.”
Do you feel supported by the club? Ortega was asked. “Well, I’ll tell you if I renew tomorrow [he has a year left on his contract], I’ll finish my contract soon. Without talking about my contract, I feel supported today.”
Would you like to continue despite the situation? “If there’s a sports project, I’ll stay, of course.”
There is? “I’m working on that, I want there to be. But you have to have clear numbers.”
“Gonzalo has a two-year contract and I’m relatively worried [that he’s leaving now]. In principle, he’s going to fulfill the contract. If he really signs for another team, there will be time to negotiate. Gonzalo has been a Barça uncle for a lifetime, I understand that he would like to stay, but it has to do with his economic well-being, if he has a fantastic offer and the club cannot match it, I fully understand why he thinks about leaving, everyone has to look out for their future. If he renews, we forget about the issue”.
“As a coach I try to have the best team and sign the best ones that fit our way of playing, but the economic issue is king, the club’s situation is bad and we have to adapt, I understand the club. I am sure that doing things with time we can have a competitive team, but you have to be able to do them even with a lower budget. I think that work is being done on the future, sports planning is very clear to us. I work with Joan Marín. I do know which players I will have.”
