17.05.2008 23:58
Laporta: "Now we need to be strong"
www.fcbarcelona.cat
Barça closed their 2007-08 season against Murcia, and their president Joan Laporta recognized that throughout the campaign the results “weren’t always great”, but he now believes Barça “needs to be strong and to look forward to the new cycle”.
Barça closed their 2007-08 season with a festival of goals against Murcia in la Nueva Condomina
(3-5). Just after the game the Barça president said “a cycle has come to an end that in
general has bought us some beautiful moments and glory”.
Joan Laporta also stated that “all cycles must come to an end, and people get to the
end of their work”, referring to some of the current squad who won’t be at Barça next
season. He added that “we still have a solid base to the team, and some players have come up
who can still give us a lot of pleasure”.
We’re working on it
Joan Laporta didn’t want to get into speculation about who was leaving and who was
staying, he limited himself to saying: “for the moment, we have said that Rijkaard
won’t be continuing and Pep Guardiola will be taking over. The new coaching staff is taking
shape”, he added, and he stressed that all the issues of who was leaving or staying would be
dealt with calmly.
Support for Bojan
When questioned about Bojan’s decision not to play for Spain in this summer’s European
Championship, Joan Laporta said that “he has our full support. This season, despite his 17
years, he has gone through everything. He’s still growing, he has a present and a future, and
I ask for understanding. He has a great future at Barça and for the national side”.