FC Barcelona 2023/24 presented at a new home

Culers have welcomed the FC Barcelona class of 2023/24 to their new home at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in rousing style. Less than an hour before the start of the Gamper game against Tottenham Hotspur, each of the members of the squad, including both playing and coaching staff, was roared onto the pitch that the team will be gracing while work is being done to redevelop Spotify Camp Nou.

There was a defiant look on everyone's faces. It was fabulous to win La Liga last season, and this time they are hungering for even more.

Vilafranca's human castles set things going

Today, like every Gamper day, was a day for celebration. It was all started by the human castles ('castellers') group from Vilafranca. The fans responded in full voice, and from then on, there was barely a moment when they weren't cheering one thing or another as the events unfolded in the build up to the 8pm CEST kick-off.

As the squad came out, perhaps the biggest cheers of all were reserved for coach Xavi Hernández, the new signings (Gündoğan, Oriol Romeu and Iñigo Martínez) and some of the biggest performers of last season, such as Balde, Pedri, Robert Lewandowski and, of course, this season's four captains. And it was captain number one, Sergi Roberto, who first addressed the crowd, followed by his coach.

Words from the new captain

Roberto began by welcoming the new additions to the roster. "This is your home" he said, before commenting that "this is a very special moment for me personally, because I am now the first captain of my lifelong club. I have been set some fine examples and I hope to defend this club and its colours as they did."

He also had special words for everyone who had come to the Estadi Olímpic today. "This will be your home" he said. "And I hope you can feel the same here as you did at Spotify Camp Nou. We'll see you again at the end of the season to lift trophies together."

Xavi speaks

Xavi Hernández then took to the mike, saying "this will be a strange season. We have moved house and that means we'll need your support more than ever. The team will do everything it can, and as it always has done. Once again, the idea is to win every title we play for." 

And so concluded the build-up to the Gamper. But the biggest part of the night was yet to come. FC Barcelona v Tottenham Hotspur... Força Barça!