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17.10.2008 12:23
Laporta impressed by example set by Guardiola
Carles Cascante (enviat especial) / Roger Bogunyà
Laporta has spoken from the USA about the importance of the game at San Mamés. The Barça president hopes the international break “hasn’t broken the good run of form the team was having” and considers Guardiola’s humility to be the standard to follow.
Although he is in the United States with the basketball team, where he has several institutional duties to deal with, President Joan Laporta spoke to Barça TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat about the latest issues regarding the football team, who return to competition this Sunday at San Mamés.
“Sport is also important”
Laporta made it clear that it is sporting achievements that matter most.
“The organisation and the club have shown they have a life to get on with (now in the USA)
but we cannot forget how important football is to our club. On Sunday we have an important game in
Bilbao against Athletic Club. It is our responsibility to present a good image of ourselves around
the world, but sport is also important.”
Pleased with team performances
Speaking about the way things are going for Guardiola and his team, the
president admitted he is very pleased with the results so far. “I have a lot of faith in
Guardiola’s team and I’m very satisfied, but right now I think we all have to continue
sharing humility that Guardiola himself has been displaying in recent weeks.”
Suffering and humility
He added that “now is the time to make an effort, to work together and now is the time to know how to suffer, to try to reach the moments we can enjoy. Right now we have to work responsibly and with humility, and there are no easy games. That’s something that needs to be made clear. I’d like things to continue progressing as they have done in recent weeks and hope the international break has not broken the team’s good rhythm.”
The American market
Joan Laporta also spoke about Barça’s presence in the United States this week. First in
Miami, where he
presented an offer
to become co-owners of an MLS (Major League Soccer) franchise in 2010: “This all forms
part of our strategy for the United States, because Barça is a global club and we should be present
in a country and market like America.”
But the Barça president is now in Los Angeles, where the basketball team is in a four-team tournament along with the Lakers, Clippers and Raptors: “We are in Los Angeles to play in some games in which we’ll be facing a player who brings back fond memories for all Barça supporters. Pau Gasol. These games are also part of the promotion of our image in the USA because, I insist, it is a market we need to be in, because it is a market that sets standards on an international level”.
But the Barça president is now in Los Angeles, where the basketball team is in a four-team tournament along with the Lakers, Clippers and Raptors: “We are in Los Angeles to play in some games in which we’ll be facing a player who brings back fond memories for all Barça supporters. Pau Gasol. These games are also part of the promotion of our image in the USA because, I insist, it is a market we need to be in, because it is a market that sets standards on an international level”.
