FCBARCELONA.CAT

04.06.2009 12:15

Laporta: "The team has to be given a new stimulus”

David Puig

In an interview on Catalan radio station RAC1, the president of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta, said that the players needed a new stimulus in order to maintain the current winning mentality. He also announced improved contracts for the coaching staff.

Laporta was interviewed on Thursday morning and expressed his delight at winning the treble: “Reality has exceeded our expectations. However, next season will be very complicated. After a great season like this one the team needs an important impulse. So the technical department has been working for some time on the matter of transfers in and out so that people don’t relax and keep a hunger for winning titles”.

Contract improvements for coaches

Joan Laporta highlighted the job done by the coaching staff, especially Josep Guardiola, and announced that he would be offered an extension to his contract and improved conditions: “The Board has discussed proposing to Josep Guardiola a one-year extension to his contract. We’ve also decided to extend the coaching staff’s contracts for a year and to improve the conditions of the three main coaches, Guardiola, Vilanova and Unzué”.

Valdés and Eto'o

During the 40-minute interview, the Barça president also spoke about Víctor Valdés and Samuel Eto'o. He confirmed that the Club has offered Valdés a new contract and that both sides are keen to settle his future quickly. “There’s a lot of interest in reaching a solution. The Club has made him a proposal that I hope his representatives think is OK. We want Víctor to be the Barça goalkeeper for many years. We are very grateful to him and personally I would praise him to the skies. He’s integrated in the Club, he’s a captain and an excellent person”.

As for Eto’o, Joan Laporta is waiting to hear his intentions before taking any action: “Eto’o is the best forward in the world and a player who is wanted by the biggest clubs in Europe. It’s a very sensitive case and the technical department is waiting to find out the player’s intentions”. Meanwhile, Laporta also confirmed that the Club is looking at a number of possible signing but declined to mention any names.