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“The objective of Spar Girona? Always be among the best teams»

A summer without vacation, apparently.

I had June to disconnect. It’s usually the month we choose trainers to charge batteries. If you like this sport, it doesn’t hurt to be busy and I’ve spent these weeks without training to watch all that basketball that, throughout the year, I haven’t had the chance to experience up close.

Little rest and then, from challenge to challenge. Uni will come later, but now it’s his turn to be with the national team.

Yes. Things are going well enough. We spent a few days in Tenerife and the whole team went above and beyond. He talks about challenges and this one is different from the Uni, of course. I have to try to get my idea right with a few days to spare. During this time, the group has evolved and we are on the verge of a very high level European.

Please explain yourself.

We have already faced Poland and also Germany. The first, a large and intense team. The second, giant. We won, but we were beaten a lot. We have also played with France, three times. This shows you what the level is. But then there are Italy and Lithuania, two of the favourites. There will be levels, as I said, starting with the group stage.

What is the goal?

Our hope is to reach the final. But to catch her we will have to do a lot of things well done. We’ll see what the way is. And we have to start with Italy (today, 1:30 p.m.). So the challenge is capital.

Is this generation rising strongly?

Yes, there is an interesting level. The players who make it this far are the product of many coaches and also of the work done by the Federation, which controls a large number of players and has been changing pieces over time, keeping track. This generation and the immediate future is good. It must be taken into account that the elite is very high and these girls, who are only 18 years old, may not be quite ready to adapt and compete like this in the first place. This is where categories like Challenge (second division in Spain) can give them a helping hand.

It will be difficult to find another one Laia Palau?

Oysters! It’s always difficult for players like that to come out. They are proper names that everyone remembers. But we hope so. Why not? That would be good news.

Does he regret not being able to train her this season in Girona?

Any coach, or even player, would want to share a dressing room with someone like her. Of couse. But he has made a decision and decided to leave it. It will be a pleasure to work on it, albeit in a different way.

It is a year of changes for you. How does it fit in?

When you accept a challenge of this magnitude, as it is to manage Spar Girona, you consider a whole series of things. Most importantly, he was very motivated to take this step. Now it is true that I am fully focused on the selection. But I kept thinking about how I want the pre-season to be, at least first.

What stands out to me about your time at La Seu?

Sportingly, it was very positive. I have been able to build a very good relationship with many players, creating strong girls and betting on the national product. I have had the trust of a club that has always offered me all its support. And besides, I’ve been home. I could not be more grateful to the people of La Seu. But as I told you, now I think the time has come to take a step forward and live a new experience, with another motivation.

To what extent is this a challenge for Bernat Canut?

Sometimes, in these kinds of situations, we talk about pressure. I don’t feel that I have more than I could have in Cadí. But each club has its own goals and that must be respected and taken into account. Now we will work to try to complete the squad and prepare to start the season on a very good footing. Make a powerful, competitive group. I strongly believe in each of the steps that must be taken, in an order.

Will he have one of the best squads he has ever managed?

That’s why I was talking to him about a step forward. I am very happy with the players who have joined and those who have decided to stay and continue. It is a mixture of experience and indisputable quality.

How far can Uni go?

It must always be among the best teams. Starting with the Women’s League, where there will be very strong rivals who will stand up to us. That’s why it’s time to have a good pre-season. Create a strong, united group in which each teammate blindly believes in the other.

Talk about the Women’s League. A powerful, even and unpredictable championship is expected.

This is good news. Always. And it means that national women’s basketball has grown. The League is more competitive and people enjoy it, because every weekend there are good matches. Not like before. It’s good for the sport in general. It will be an attractive competition and hopefully there will be resources to continue betting on it.

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