Barcelona president Joan Laporta recently participated in the Johan Cruyff Foundation’s open day, where he provided some significant updates.
One of the key announcements was that the club’s Ordinary General Assembly will take place on October 19, and it will be conducted through telematic means.
This decision was made to increase participation, and Laporta expressed his belief that this approach would be more effective given the current condition of the club’s facilities.
“We think that the Ordinary General Assembly, being telematic, will be more participatory and we believe that it will be better considering the state of the club’s facilities,” he said as quoted by SPORT.
Thoughts on Real Madrid’s defeat
During his interaction with the media, Laporta touched upon several important topics. He acknowledged Real Madrid’s recent defeat but emphasised that Barcelona’s focus remains firmly on their own performance.
He recalled their recent Champions League match against Young Boys, where Barça secured an impressive 5-0 victory, but he stressed that the upcoming game against Alavés is crucial.
“We focused on ourselves, I remember the Young Boys game in which we scored five goals and now we have to think about Alaves, which is very important. The break is coming and it is always good to get a victory,” he added.
Hansi Flick’s work
Laporta also spoke about Barcelona manager Hansi Flick and the ongoing challenges the team faces with injuries. He commended Flick for not making excuses and for handling the situation effectively despite several key players being sidelined.
Players like Frenkie de Jong, Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo, and Gavi are recovering, and Laporta is optimistic about their return.
“Flick is not looking for excuses. The injuries are a problem but he is coping very well. Some important players are recovering and we are waiting for the return of De Jong, who has already played a few minutes, Fermin, Dani Olmo, and Gavi.”
He also highlighted the importance of having a large and competitive squad, given the demanding football calendar.
“The calendar forces us to have competitive and wide squads. I think that the incorporation of players from the youth team is giving good results.
“Flick is doing an extraordinary job, he knew what he had and he is managing it very well,” he added.
Why was Flick hired?
Laporta further elaborated on Flick’s appointment, explaining that Barcelona’s director of football, Deco, was instrumental in bringing him to the club. The sporting committee was convinced that Flick was the right man for the job.
“Our director of football brought him in and the sporting committee decided that he had to be our coach. Deco had already told me that he was confident that it would work well, and that a new impetus had to be given.”
According to Laporta, Flick is deeply passionate about Barcelona’s philosophy, having studied the club’s history and understanding the importance of nurturing homegrown talent.
“It was decided that Hansi Flick would be the one and Hansi knows that the best times for Barça are when we have had a lot of players in the squad. He is a student of Barça, he is passionate,” he concluded.
