12.10.2008 10:33
Bonano: “To play in goal is a matter of pride”
Berta Brau
Roberto Bonano paid a visit to FC Barcelona recently and stated that he believes that it will be a balancing act to keep all three goalkeepers at his former club happy during the current season.
On Wednesday, the Argentinian custodian visited the Blaugrana’s Ciutat Esportiva complex to
say hello to friends that he knew during his time in the squad between 2001 and 2003. Bonano was
met by a number of faces that he knew, including goalkeeping coach Juan Carlos Unzué. While at the
training ground, Barça TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat caught up with the former number one and he
explained his feelings on the squad containing three goalkeepers this term.
“Three goalkeepers is complicated”
With the trio of shot-stoppers on the books, Bonano gave his view from
the outside. “It is always more usual to see two goalkeepers in a first team squad, with one
playing regularly and the other waiting for their chance,” he said. “But in the case of
having three goalkeepers it could be complicated because if everyone is playing well and the three
are all at their best. That is why, generally, there are two goalkeepers and occasionally one will
be promoted from the youth team to learn, but will then play for the B team.”
A good atmosphere
At FC Barcelona, the team has a number one in Víctor Valdés and it is vital that there is a
good atmosphere and that everyone works together. “It is necessary that there is a good
working environment because the two goalkeepers that do not play regularly need the intensity at
training every day so that the number one sees the level of competition that is there and so that
they have patience to wait for a chance to play in the cup games or at any given moment,” he
said.
Working hard
“When
one plays for such a big club like Barça, whether you are second, third or fourth choice, you have
to work to your maximum because in football so much can change and it could be that a keeper that
is third choice for one coach can be first choice for another,” Bonano continued.
“It is also a matter of personal pride because when you go into training you have to be
at your best all of the time in order to help the squad,” he explained. “You need to
show that you are willing and ready to work hard in a good atmosphere and compete with the regular
goalkeeper to ensure that everything goes well.”
Playing with Valdés
During the 2002/03 campaign, Bonano was in the same squad as Valdés when
the Catalan keeper was making his first appearances for the club after being promoted from the B
team. “I saw his first few games for the club and he did well and we knew that he had a lot
of quality and a special personality because to be the keeper at Barça you need to have character
and to be able to handle criticism.”
Number one
Bonano only had good words to say about Valdés and the way that he has performed for the
Blaugrana in recent seasons as he said that the keeper “had shown just how good he is during
all that time”. Since Andoni Zubizarreta left the club, Barça have regularly signed
goalkeepers, but “due to his performances and displays, Valdés has kept the number one jersey
and Barça have barely needed to think about anyone else”.