For the first time, LaLiga presented five awards at the Globe Soccer Gala in Dubai. The result of a strategic alliance to expand the Spanish championship brand throughout the Middle East, Barcelona won four of the five trophies. Joan Laporta had a lot of work, as he went up to collect three awards, that of the best team of the last League 24/25, that of the best striker, which went to Rapinha, and that of best coach of the League, which went to Hansi Flick as it could not be otherwise.
Discipline with respect
“We played an offensive game, very colorful as demonstrated by the 102 goals, and in difficult moments the team knew how to measure up and we overcame the November slump.” Regarding Flick, he declared himself devoted to his coach: “He is a passionate man with a special sensitivity towards the players, he applies discipline with respect. We used very strong pressure in which we were very good at using the outside fire” and, although “now it is costing us more, we are going first and we hope they repeat what they did last season and a little more,” he said hopefully. De Rapinha highlighted that “his leadership is very important, he transmits passion, intensity, talent and also scores goals. His absence is always noticeable when he is not there because he is a player who pushes others to always give their best.” The Brazilian could not attend but sent a video thanking LaLiga for the award as best player in the championship.
Lamine collects the award from Andrés Iniesta
Lamine Yamal received the award for the best young player of the last League from none other than the hands of an idol such as Iniesta: “I am happy that it was given to me by a legend like Andrés, whom I watched so much on TV when I was little,” acknowledged the Barça star, who defined himself as “a person who is happy and calm, and that is enough for me.”
Jan Oblak collects the award for the best save of the last League.
The best stop in LaLiga
Jan Oblak collected the award for the best save of the last championship. The veteran red and white goalkeeper starred in the best action by a goalkeeper on matchday 9, when Real Sociedad and Atlético de Madrid faced off at the Reale Arena. In the 12th minute he dove back to clear a lofted header from Zubimendi that was sneaking into the top corner, and two seconds later he made another save from the Moroccan Aguerd, who collected the rebound and shot from point-blank range. It is striking that Oblak collects this award when on the last day of the League, in the Girona field, he made what some have described as the best save of his entire career against Witsel. It is surely worth it, at least, to aspire to revalidate the award he collected at the Globe Soccer Gala in Dubai.
