Joan Laporta has overseen an era of change at FC Barcelona. He served between 2003 and 2010, having proven to be the most successful president in terms of trophies won per year. Laporta now aims to recreate those years of glory under more strenuous circumstances.
With the club in financial ruin, his nomination for the technical department has been pivotal. His presidency has given rise to the appointment of fabled directors, who have arrived intending to help steer the ship.
In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Laporta has given insight into the responsibilities of the technical staff, speaking thoroughly about what goes on behind closed doors.
Lauding Mateu Alemany in particular, he waxed lyrical about his work in the transfer market.
I am happy that he continues. He is being crucial in the construction of a team that is becoming more and more competitive, but he also has that point of serenity, he doesn’t lose his composure during negotiations, and he knows how to be persistent, perseverant, and skillful.
Extending his appraisal to Jordi Cruyff, who recently parted ways, Laporta brought up the subject of Jordi’s involvement in sporting-related matters.
The president claimed:
I will not cease to praise the work of Mateu Alemany, and also Jordi Cruyff. Jordi was more focused on the strictly sporting aspect, closer to Xavi. Both of them have worked well together, and Mateu, in the negotiation aspect, has been brilliant. He is a brilliant man, very capable. I am very happy to have him, and he gives me a lot of confidence.
Laporta was inclined to discern differences between Alemany and Cruyff’s roles, which have now been delegated to Deco.
Mateu continues to fulfill his role, he is the director of football, the one who has a presence in the institutions, the one who regulates football, especially in LaLiga, and he is someone who is up-to-date, passionate about the latest developments, and in everything that affects ‘fair play,’ which is key.
Commenting on Deco’s position, he stated:
There has to be a perfect harmony between Deco and Xavi, which is what we aim for, a person with a strong personality, with very interesting football knowledge for us, a leader, and someone I value.”, Laporta further emphasized that “He knows how to solve problems and has an attitude that we can be proud of because he defends Barça, lives it, feels it, and moreover, believes in it.
Touching on the role of his newly appointed directors, Laporta exclaimed:
The sporting decisions of the club are made by the technical secretary in mutual agreement with the coach, and that hasn’t changed much from what we had with Jordi. Perhaps Deco, due to his personality, will have a more interventionist role in this sense, and that’s what we expect from him. And that’s where the foundation of the club’s sporting decisions lies.
While the previous board was often accused of not placing faith in the designated professionals, Laporta has placed emphasis on their words having weight and that their advice will be followed.
We are the ones who have this responsibility, but in ninety-nine percent of the cases, we will follow what this team of professionals tells us, as they have to create a highly competitive squad for us.
Wrapping up the responsibilities of the directors, he offered perspicuity on the varying degrees of obligations all members of the club possess.
The players, to play, to compete, to try to win, and to fulfill their commercial obligations to the club. The coach, to train a highly competitive team, to make decisions, and to work with the technical department to build a competitive squad. The technical department and the director of football, to negotiate, to secure the best conditions as we have mentioned before, and to establish and define the football philosophy with the coach.
And the president?
The president, to lead. We have been elected by the members for a reason, and we have this responsibility. But furthermore, we are risking our own assets; the responsibility we have is a universal financial responsibility. If there are losses, we are the ones responsible and we have to pay for them.
Laporta’s idea of how responsibilities are aptly divided between carefully selected professionals of the squad shows his level of experience in this field and that he aspires to create a competitive environment.
