Laporta: 'The situation was unsustainable'

Joan Laporta and Sergi Barjuan spoke to the press on Thursday, following the latter’s appointment as interim coach of the FC Barcelona senior team. “Sergi knows the system as was part of one the best teams ever, Johan Cruyff’s Dream Team” said the president. “He is a club man who understands our philosophy. He’s a brave, ambitious man. Today is a day of hope.”

“The situation was unsustainable. I think we were sliding dangerously and could have slipped out of contention for everything. I hope this change will serve as motivation to readdress the situation and get the team winning again.”

He also explained that the idea is for Barjuan to run the team until a full-time replacement for Ronald Koeman can be found.

“Perhaps we have moved a bit too far away from our style and now we need to recover our essence” he continued. “That style is genuine and irreplaceable. Meanwhile, the league is still wide open. All of the titles are still possible. There are no such thing as transition years at Barça.” 

“Ronald Koeman became Barça manager at the most difficult of times. He has always been a club man and will always be part of its history. He will always be a part of all of our memories.”

Laporta would not give any details of the severance terms, but did say “everything affects us because we’ll have to pay a sum of money that was not budgeted for. But we shall try to respect both parties’ rights to our mutual satisfaction.”

“We broke the news to him with the utmost respect. I think he appreciated that we had allowed him something of a margin.”

He was referring to the message of support following the defeat at Benfica and ahead of the visit to the Wanda Metropolitano.

The name Xavi Hernández has been on many lips of late. Laporta admitted that the former Barça midfielder is one of the names being considered, but was unable to make any kind of statement on the matter. He explained that they have been in constant communication since the elections, and that they have even discussed Barça games together.

“Xavi will coach Barça one day” he said. “He lives for football. He loves football. He is a Barça man and the club is the biggest priority in his life. I hold him in very high regard.”

“But there are other options. Whoever comes will get our full support. We want to see spectacular football. We have done before and we will do again.”