In the eight and a half years that he has been in charge, the former player has experienced firsthand the best years in the club’s history. With him, he has been promoted twice to Primera and now Girona is the leader of the top category, with exceptional numbers, after winning 2-4 at Barça with a football lesson.
How did the president of the Primera leader sleep after the 2-4 against Barça?
Well, well… but not too much, because we left Montjuïc late and I had to get up early today. Happy for another victory that extends this good trajectory that the team has.
What was he thinking, in the car, returning to Girona?
I was driving, and that was fine with me. First of all, I wanted the tension to drop a little. We talked with the wife and the family that the moment is fleeting, unforgettable, and that we had to savor it. We must be happy. We have a coach and a squad that are doing phenomenal. We are bringing joy and joy to the city and to our fans. That we can give this joy to people makes us proud. Many children went to school today wearing the Girona shirt.
The focus is very much on Girona and the exceptional feat it is doing.
Yes. We are turning history upside down. We were not the reference, there were others, and today everyone feels proud that Girona represents us. This has a lot of global impact, which even surprises us, knowing the significance of football and a league like the Spanish one.
What did Girona do better than Barça to win?
The master said it, and I think he is absolutely right, this is our strength: that we were ourselves. We continued to be the team we have been since the pre-season, which we have been building. Players have arrived with a lot of footballing quality and it is being played at a high level. And that we play at a high level is no longer exceptional, it’s normal, we don’t have one good game and three bad ones. The other day against Valencia we were 0-1 and you had the feeling that the team was very clear about what they had to do. And this happens day after day. This is our strength.
What did Joan Laporta tell him?
Both the president and his board congratulated us, already before the game, for our track record, and at the end their behavior was also exceptional. They congratulated us again, told us that we had played very well and that we deserved to win.
What needs to be done now so that this is not a one-day flower and you can really fight for the title?
The first thing we need to do is not change much what we are doing. From our responsibility we must give peace of mind and support to the sports side. We will win and lose games, but that doesn’t mean we have to change anything. We have to be realistic and make way. Whatever happens this season is to be enjoyed. I always say that we should enjoy suffering, in a good way. In Montjuïc I saw the team and suffered little, you always have options to win, and that gives a lot of peace of mind. Every day I think about the next game so I can enjoy it again.
Did he go down to the dressing room?
Yes, I found a lot of joy. Many things are discussed, whether Girona will continue to maintain the level, and the victory was also a kind of personal vindication. The players knew another step forward had been taken. And immediately the recovery began and to think about Alabès. Football has this good and bad thing. You can’t stop.
Is he enjoying himself more now as president than as a footballer?
It’s a difficult question. I always say that it’s best to enjoy the countryside. Being the protagonist is priceless.
Would he have liked to experience this as a Girona player?
Yes, of course! It would be priceless. As a player, luckily, I enjoyed great moments, but to do it with your club…
What do you think when they are compared to Leicester?
Lately in every interview we are asked this. They were able to do it, to be champions. We are only a third of the way through the season. They proved that anything is possible. But we have to go day by day. This is what has been good for us.
With 41 points after 16 games, is Girona already a candidate for the title?
With these numbers, we are fighting for the title. The numbers are stratospheric, they are unbelievable. We are ahead of Madrid, who are having a great season, and Barça. They can’t take that away from us. The season is long and it will cost us, the rivals will wait for us and playing against us will be a motivation for the rivals.
Are they expecting the third “sold out” in a row in Montilivi next Monday against Alabès?
I know there is a huge demand for tickets. I don’t know if we will be sold out, but we will be close. Ticket sales for the game against Atlético de Madrid are also going very well, even though both games are at night and it will be cold. I think the fans can’t miss it, they have to be with the team, because the players also need the public. The way the team is going, it’s not cold.
Do they plan to strengthen the team in the winter market?
The sports management is working on it. The league is 38 days long, and there is also the Cup. You need to have a wardrobe. We will try to finish giving strength to the team or make up for any lack we have. It is not easy to improve what we have today. This is a matter for the coach and the sports management. We then talk about it and look for what solutions there are to bring what they propose to us.
Mayor Lluc Salellas has said that they are already talking about how to reform Montilivi if it goes to Europe. what would it take
We are now focused on the Sports City project, which will start imminently, but we are also thinking about the future projection of the stadium. This season, as things are going, the processes are being accelerated. We expected to be in Primera and stay there for years and that this stability would allow us to face important challenges. This spectacular performance makes us think that we have to move quickly to try to be ready, especially if we play in Europe next season.
Is it a question of capacity or other things?
Capacity and stadium conditions. We have to see what we can do with the time we have. We need the City Council to stand by the club and make things easier for us. This is no longer just for Girona, it is for the people of Girona and the people who visit us. If we end up playing in Europe we will have the summer to do things. There are clubs that make improvements when they can, it will be necessary to see how everything can be adapted.
In the longer term, are they considering an expansion of Montilivi for 18,000 or 20,000 spectators?
The study is being done. It’s not easy. We had a forecast and we changed them, on the fly, due to the situation we are in. We want to do it faster. The ownership is very clear that the stadium needs to be improved, that we need to have a First Division ground so that people have the amenities and services that they don’t have now. People think we don’t do anything, but it’s a very important investment. We can’t do anything that puts the stability of the club at risk. We believed that the money had to be in the field and that stability would allow us to do things. We are on this path.
Do they have a schedule?
No, we are still in the phase where the project is presented to us and that this is viable. We have a group of people who, together with companies that have already built stadiums and have experience with them, are studying it.
I understand that, therefore, between reforming Montilivi and making a new stadium, they will reform the current one?
This is our main idea. Now we are in the city. Before the stadium was very far away and now it is integrated. People walk there, but I also know that people come from outside and find it difficult to park. For all this we have to find solutions and we have to discuss it with the City Council. This cannot be decided in three days, the City Council must also get involved.
The mayor has admitted that football gives brutal promotion.
For that. It’s time for the City Council to be on Girona’s side. We are living a unique moment and we cannot let it pass, because we would regret it. Everyone has to do their part, the club first, and we are already doing it and we will continue to do it.
What financial support should the City Council provide?
There are many things it can do. The stadium is municipal, although we have the concession. There may be financial help, or it may help to get the improvements done quickly in the summer. Access can be improved, the parking problem can be solved… there are many issues that we need to deal with.
2023-12-12 05:30:15
#processes #reform #Montilivi #accelerated
