Have you already suffered your dismissal?
Little by little it was painted. It’s true that as the team is playing, you follow it with interest and that makes me all a little confused. And more so when I was so involved in this project. He believed in it a lot. But these are things that happen in this profession and it has to be accepted. I follow him Girona basketball with a lot of attention and I want things to go well for him.
Was this outcome expected?
You never want these things to happen, because I always want everything to be as good as possible. However, coaches depend on the results, that everything is done well. In this case we are talking about six defeats and that is it. To some extent the decision is logical. And I probably wouldn’t have done some good things. One has to look at everything in perspective and think about what could have been done better. Or how I helped make this project go up. Everything makes you better, that too. Things happen and they have a reason. And I come back: the streak that the team was carrying was not good. Now, I also thought we were able to reverse it, as it has been seen to have ended up happening. In other circumstances, yes, but it has happened.
Why lose six games in a row and come to such a situation?
There are many factors involved. Of these six defeats, a Castellón we competed really well. Although he was injured there Karamo (Champion). Almansa it did affect us that he, an important player, was not with us and that it was known that it would be a long-term injury. Or not being able to count on Pol Molins. We were very bad, although we improved afterwards, but without it being reflected in the results. Cáceres i Valladolid we had them there. And here it all adds up. You’re not right, you’re doing things better and at important times you’re not right. It causes games to be lost, which triggers doubts. When this happens, the physical and mental state is affected. Only that it would have changed a little … I’m not talking about luck anymore, but work, but that one party would have fallen to the other side. Maybe everything would have been different. It is the beautiful part of our sport. Now, I’m sure I’ve done things wrong, even though we haven’t had that much-needed fortune. That affected Karamo, though it’s no excuse. With the players we have we should have won some more games and I understand the dismissal, it is a logical decision.
He has said before that all experience serves to improve. What did the passage through Girona do for you?
Everything has to be taken for granted. The club, with its demand, coming from The payment a LEB Or, has taken steps forward. And I’ve learned a lot from these players, from the coaching staff and also from Marc (Gasol), which has helped us in many ways. It’s also true that I haven’t had to live a year and it’s too pretty. I couldn’t be with the fans, we played a lot of games behind closed doors and what I’m experiencing now I’ve missed. I wish I had experienced it. But living with the virus, being stopped and closed for a month and then playing three games in a week … All this has made me better as a coach. Last year we held on despite these difficulties and won two Catalan leagues.
How do you assess the impact that the arrival of Marc Gasol on the staff has had?
Not just as a player and as a club president, but as a person who wants to grow basketball Girona, its impact is fantastic. For everyone. If you add to that that he has an enormous quality, that he has been and is one of the best players in the world, and that he is playing Bàsquet Girona right now, then imagine. It has been shown in these three matches. With few details it grows all the players around it and at the same time minimizes the virtues of the opponent. The impact is very positive for the club, the city and the players.
Do you think that if Gasol had joined the squad before, you would still be the coach of Bàsquet Girona?
These are things I think about, of course, but it’s not a decision that is in my hands. At the time I was the coach I had to take into account other situations, such as the injuries of Karamo (Jawara) or Pol (Molins); how to improve the attack, how to defend more or how to win a game. Everything that didn’t depend on me, such as Marc Gasol joining sooner or later, didn’t take him too long to think about it. Now that it’s over, I’m really looking forward to seeing him on the court and not being able to enjoy him as a coach. But it will in George (Sargatal) and their coaching staff, so I wish them all the best. It’s a pleasure to see him play and see how the team plays. At least I didn’t go down without explaining myself first.
Better to have chosen Jordi Sargatal, whom you know, than to have gone to look for a replacement abroad?
I would have preferred them to have stayed with me! But I think in my opinion, it’s better to keep the people who have been working since the beginning of the season. Because we were doing things right and so we didn’t have to go looking for anyone beyond. It’s a positive reinforcement to me, because we were all in the same bag, on the same project. I also have to tell him I don’t think much about it, really.
Do you see this Girona Basketball with wood and ingredients to be on top?
I’ve always been positive and thought that whether or not I was on the bench, the bad dynamic would be reversed and a good season could be made. Now I keep thinking about it and I have even more arguments for doing so. With Marc in the squad, apart from the other players he had and with whom he believed a lot, there are enough arguments to be as high as possible.
He has recently been appointed new head of the Catalan national teams. How is this new stage going?
I’m looking forward to continuing to learn and I’ve been presented with an opportunity to do something different from what I’ve done so far. I’ve always enjoyed working with young people and many of them have been able to keep improving, bringing them new things so that they are competing in higher leagues. I will now be able to live and enjoy many players, from mini to almost senior. I will see how they evolve and I will be able to help them and their coaches get better. I like it and I’m excited about it. At the same time, it is a source of pride that they have thought of me as a replacement Save Maldonado, a coach with great prestige and a long career. At the moment I’m still in position. I won’t train, but working out what I love most is fantastic for me.
Does that mean you park the sidewalks for a while?
Look, I can’t leave this for a while. What happens is that I am very focused on this new job. At the same time, I do not rule out training at any time, if I get a chance. It’s what I want, what I like and my profession. But I’m one hundred percent focused on the Federation. We’ll see what projects are presented to me in the future. Everything has gone a little fast and this is the first time I haven’t finished a season at the helm of a team. Suddenly, in a few weeks, I have the opportunity to do what I do now. And I’m excited. If I have the option to retrain, I will study and value it.
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