Eduardo Castro exudes enthusiasm before the arrival of the Golden Cup, the most anticipated European competition after a year without competing on a continental level. This year will be an unofficial competition, but the Barça coach is convinced that it will be the start of something very big for roller hockey.
Finally European competition just a year later
I already played. We haven’t played a European competition match at the Palau since December 2019, nor will it be at the Palau this year, but we really want to face the best teams in Europe.
He will not need to motivate the team for the Golden Cup.
No. Since 2018 we haven’t won the European Cup. For any club it would be another incentive, for us it is a challenge. We are very excited and all five senses are ready to play again against the best teams on the continent and win the title.
This year is a lesser evil, we hope that throughout the seasons what handball or basketball has to be achieved.
Why has it reached this point with the best teams outside the European League?
For a very good initiative that is to create a European competition at the level of how many clubs are progressing professionally, not only the Portuguese but also in the OK Liga, some teams in Italy and France. We work for a European competition very similar to other sports. The initiative is very good, it is hard to consolidate a competition like the one that all the clubs that are part of the EHCA (European Hockey Clubs Association) want. This year is a lesser evil, we hope that throughout the seasons what handball or basketball has to be achieved. Long European competitions, with regular leagues, where matches abound with the best teams on the continent. I understand that we are on the right track despite the divorce that exists, but in the end for the good of sport they are condemned to understand each other and that there is a European League as God intended.
Was the creation of the EHCA essential?
Yes. That all these clubs agree already says that the initiative is the best. They are pushing so that we can have high-quality hockey throughout the year. Let’s hope so because we are missing something during the week. Domestic competitions are not enough, we need to play more with top-level teams from other European countries.
It is a tournament that has managed to bring together such good teams that the prestige of winning it is enormous
Can it affect that it is an unofficial competition?
It is true that this year there will be a European League champion who will not come out of the Golden Cup, but people who follow the world of hockey know that the best teams are in the Golden Cup. It is a tournament that has managed to bring together such good teams that the prestige of winning it is enormous, so I’m sure that when the competition starts, everyone will have in mind that it’s the tournament of international tournaments this year.
To start Sporting, current European champion
Champion of Europe and champion of the Portuguese League against whom this staff has never faced. He is a very tough rival with a stratospheric goalkeeper (Angelo Girao), with many top-level players, with super attractive hockey, fast, accustomed to a very competitive league where they have matches of a very high level. The first rival will be a very difficult bone to crack but we are Barça and we will go out for them.
How do you plan a match against an ‘unknown’?
Watching nine games before, analyzing them from all sides, seeing what they do in defense, attack, counterattack, what the goalkeeper does, cutting videos to pass on to the players so they can see it… . It is a fun and exciting challenge.
Yes, but it won’t be easy. We want to be in the final on Sunday, but knowing that the crosses will be very complicated.
The objective is the title?
Yes, but it won’t be easy. We want to be in the final on Sunday, but knowing that the crosses will be very complicated. We have to go step by step, game by game, or ball by ball as I like to say.
Do you have everyone available?
They are all well and looking forward to it. Sergi Panadero does not travel with permission from the club for a personal matter.