Benedito: "Rosell has a different model"

Barcelona presidential candidate Agustí Benedito gave an interview to Catalan newspaper Avui.


As things stand now, with a lot of media attention for Rosell on the one side and the board candidate or candidates on the other, do you think it's possible to pass the signatures' cut?
Our strength doesn't come from the media, it comes from the support of the people. There are a lot of people that support us and I am absolutely sure that we will pass the cut. And by far.

Do you consider closing a deal with others?
No. The reasons that have led us to present a candidacy are the same reasons that make an alliance unworkable. For 100%.

What distinguishes you from the continuity candidates Godall and Ferrer, and from Sandro Rosell?
As for the continuity candidates, who are the ones I perhaps know best, they have had the opportunity to make the changes we wanted in 2003. But there has been a moment when they've stopped making progress. They had the chance, but they decided not to do it. As for Rosell, I think we are talking about different models, although until now we of course don't know what his program will be.

Some accuse you of acting out of resentment for not having become a director.
There have been several occasions for me to become a member of the board. We had spoken about it with some directors, but the president has never offered it to me. I've already clearly explained the reasons for my exit. And there's nothing more to it.

Despite the fact that you've also criticised him, do you think that people have been unjust to Laporta?
He might not be the best president in the history of Barça, but he is the president of the best Barça in history. And so that's also his merit. He had a very good presidency.

Do you agree with those who accuse him of politicizing Barça?
Over the last time, Laporta has made political use of his position. I think he made a mistake. From within the club one should not do policitics. And even less for personal reasons. On the other hand, defending the club's Catalan identity is a moral obligation because it's part of the club's essence.

Are you a supporter of independence?
My team consists of people with very different sensibilities, from a political point of view I would even say opposites. And that makes us strong. My own position has little relevance. I think the future of Catalonia will only be decided upon by the Catalans. Catalonia is formed by all of us and everyone is welcome.

this was the second and last part of this interview. you can read the first part here.

Read more:
More about Benedito
Presidential candidates unhappy with renewals
Barça, a 'wonderful rarity' (by Agustí Benedito)

interview: pep lloveras

Presidential candidates know transfer price Cesc

Madrid sports paper Marca claims that Arsenal has put a price tag of 45 million euros on midfielder Cesc Fàbregas (22) after the player told Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger that he wants to leave the English Premier League club at the end of the current season.

Several Barcelona presidential candidates would want to sign Cesc, while Real Madrid is said to be willing to pay the asking price. Arsenal reportedly thinks that the sale of Cesc is a way to improve the financial situation of the club that is still weak after the construction of the new Emirates stadium.

Read more:
Transfer battle between board and Rosell
Benedito denies talks with Mascherano
Rosell closing in on Cesc

Rexach confirms offer to run for president

Asked about the rumours that he could run for president (read more here), former Barcelona player and manager Carles "Charly" Rexach has confirmed in an interview with Catalan television channel Barcelona TV that he has been offered to lead a candidacy:

"It's correct that people have asked me to take part in the elections but I don't want to say anything more about it. What was my answer to the offer? I won't comment on that."

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that those who want Rexach to run for president are old-school Barcelona fans but that the former player and coach would at this point not be very convinced about accepting the offer.

Read more:
Ex-coach Rexach considers running for president
Will former super-agent run for president?
Former president of Catalan federation could run

The Pundit: Joan Maria Battle on the continuism

« If the continuism wants to win the elections, they have no other choice than to reconcile their egos. »

Joan Maria Battle,
Sport

check more pundit talk

Godall: "Laporta is like a brother to me"

Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall gave an interview to Catalan sports paper Sport.


How do you feel about being called the heir? Do you like the word?
It's not like that. Barça is a democratic institution and the president will be he who wins the trust of the club members. This is not a matter of a dynasty but about an exercise of democracy and the club member will decide who wins. In any case, the standard is very high.

And how will you take on this challenge?
You said it, it's a challenge. It's the responsibility of the board to have the resources to make it possible that the teams can count on quality people. The choice for Txiki [and] Guardiola [...] has put us in a situation of success. We have to try to do even better or to always win all titles.

Would you add new elements compared to Laporta?
These elections are a great opportunity to add some new fire to the project. There are people who will continue but there will be others who want to join in or who have been at the club. This project of experience must raise expectations because the course of the continuation of the project can give us many more moments of joy.

A deal with Soriano is possible?
Together with him, we did a good job. We have met and talked about Barça but it wasn't about bringing our positions closer. These elections should be an opportunity to overcome disagreements or clashes of personalities and we should make these elections a chance to restore the harmony among Barcelona people. It is possible that one day I will again talk with Ferran and his people.

What worries you about Rosell?
His project includes a model that is different than the current model. It will be a project based on personality cult while I prefer to talk about a team. I remember very well how in november 2003 he wanted to dismiss Rijkaard, who later gave us two league titles and the Champions League. With him, it will be more difficult to talk about the future or collaboration because his idea of Barça is different from mine. Furthermore, it wouldn't be good for Barça to change what is working by proposals that come from resentment.

Will it be a tense campaign?
Because of our personal profiles, we don't want a dirty, tense campaign. These are exciting elections in which the Barça model that has worked is at stake.

Are you personally prepared to deal with an increased popularity?
Catalunya lives at the rhythm of Barça and that implies a responsibility. When you go abroad, you see the passion that the team awakens and when you see the children you know that it is worthwhile for Barça and for Catalonia.

Do you think about counting on Laporta in one way or another?
He cannot run for president or be part of the next board. He is a respected figure in the world of international sports bodies. He's a reference as president and if one day Barça could have a delegate at the international sports bodies, as we once had Vilaseca [josep lluís vilaseca is a former barcelona director and member of the uefa and the spanish olympic committee], there wouldn't be a better option than Laporta.

Would you continue with this concept of a catalanist club as Laporta did?
Barça is a symbol of the Catalan society since its foundation. We practice a catalanism without complexes.

What do you think about the job of Txiki? Will he continue?
He has been unjustly criticized but within the club we appreciate his efforts to give continuity to our sports policy. To keep him and Pep is the best option to continue this way of working.

Could Laporta take a step back so you can assume a more prominent role?
He has the right to lead the club until 30 June 2010. I hope the transfer of power will happen then. When we will make our project public, we will work to let people know about it. Laporta must continue to govern and as president he should make sure that the elections are peaceful, neutral and exemplary. This is his intention. It's what he has to do because he deserves to finish his term in a normal way and history will judge him as the president of the best Barça in history.

What does he tell you? That you can do better than him?
He has many virtues and, like all of us, some shortcomings. He's all heart and he has lead the club into modernity. I hope for the advice and the love of the friend who I got to know in 1968 when we met at the elementary school in Barcelona. Since then, we've loved each other as brothers.

Can this friendship harm you? Do you mind that people say that Laporta will continue to be in charge?
You will see in the campaign that this won't be the case. I have my own strong personality, very different from that of Laporta. I'm calmer and more quiet.

Do you think it will be an election of two candidates, Rosell and you?
It's hard to tell. There are some questions left that should get an answer. We see ourselves as favourites no matter the circumstances. The club members will look at the situation the club is living now, and not only regarding the football team but also in basketball, handball or futsal.

In the assets department there seem to be the most loose ends. What are your plans there?
A new state-of-the-art Palau [home to the basketball, handball, roller hockey, and futsal sections] and the serious remodeling of the Camp Nou according to the Foster design. This depends on what will happen with the reclassification of Miniestadi zone. I must express a complaint here because it's a process in which we have experienced too many obstacles and conditions that go beyond what they would ask from others. There will any way be a reclassification. We will also finish the training centre in Sant Joan Despi, among other things. There are many projects ongoing.

this was the second and last part of this interview. you can read the first part here.

Read more:
Godall and Ferrer to meet next week
Perrin: "Ferrer could accept being the second man"
The five vice-presidents of Godall

interview: joan vehils and albert masnou

Most read of the year

these were the ten most read posts since the start of this blog:


1.
The Rosell Project - Part 1: The Club

2.
New Catalan sports paper to be launched

3.
The Rosell Project - Part 2: The Team

4.
Who will be the next president of FC Barcelona?

5.
Cesc gives his ok to presidential candidates

6.
Barcelona wants to tie down Ribery before elections

7.
Barçagate (1) - El Periodico breaks the news

8.
Transfer battle between board and Rosell

9.
The Rosell Project - Part 3: The Board (1)

10.
Poll result: Who would you vote for today?

Perrin: "Txiki will take a sabbatical year"

Barcelona institutional vice-president Albert Perrín gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu.


You have been working for many years in the entourage of the club. First as member of the opposition and now as vice president. What does this last year mean for you?
It is the climax of the work done over many years to change the dynamics of the club. I was a staunch opponent at the time of mister Nuñez [president from 1978 to 2000], whom I respect. I think he did many good things for the club and if he would have left after Wembley [the first european cup won by barcelona in 1992], he would have been a great president. To have been able to be part of this explosion of the squad and to win all these titles has been a great satisfaction.

At that time, when you were in the opposition, would you have thought that you would live all this?
Not in my wildest dreams.

What do the tears of Pep Guardiola in Abu Dhabi represent?
These are the same tears that ran down my face, that of the president, of everyone. We all had to deal with very strong pressure and that's why the tears came. For us, the World Cup for Clubs was very important, it was the only trophy we didn't have. And it also represented winning six titles.

And you finished the year in Zurich attending the gala that crowned Messi as the best footballer in the world?
The gala evening in Zurich was very important for our football academy and for the country because Barça showed that our sporting model works. It's a reward for the whole academy. Three boys formed at the club since childhood are among the top five players in the world and one of them, Messi, is the best.

It is a recognition for all those people who never appear in the papers and who are doing the groundwork. These three boys have gotten there because so many people have given their very best. It was the cherry on the cake.

The big merit of this board is to have started two winning cycles in a row?
I have a special admiration for our sports director. In 2003, I said that the best signing Laporta had done was that of Txiki. It is an honest person, hard-working, who knows the market and the philosophy of the club. These two cycles have followed each other thanks to him.

You've said that you think he'll leave the club.
He has been very badly treated all those years. People said that Barça should sign Monchi [the sports director of sevilla]. He had to deal with a lot and I think that independent of who wins the elections, he will take a sabbatical year.

What was the most special moment of this year?
It's very difficult to choose one moment, because each trophy has been special. There is nevertheless one that, when you now look back, has been very important: the penalty saved by Pinto in Mallorca. Without that save, we wouldn't have lived all this.

How do you see the future of Guardiola?
He has a personality that is so strong, he is so intelligent, that he will be here as long as he wants. The successes are due to his intelligence and because he's a man of the club. He didn't have to follow any course to get to know the club...

It's obvious that we would like him to renew, but he will do that when he wants it. And we can be sure he will not move to Madrid. He doesn't move because of money. He must feel comfortable in his work, and here he is.

Do you see him as the Alex Ferguson of the club?
I think so, but he has his own personality and he will be who he wants to be.

this is the third and last part of this interview.

You can read the previous parts of the interview here:
Perrin: "Ferrer could accept being the second man"
Perrin: "Laporta deserves a statue"

interview: ferran correas and dani colmena