How did the president of the Primera leader sleep after 4-2 against Barça?
Good, good… but I didn’t sleep too much, because we left Montjuic late and I had to get up early today. Happy for one more victory that extends this good trajectory that the team has had.
What were you thinking, in the car, returning to Girona?
I was driving, and this was good for me to relax. First of all, I wanted the tension to go down a little. We talked with my wife and the family that the moment is amazing, unforgettable, and that we had to savor it. We have to be happy. We have a coach and a squad that are doing phenomenal. We are bringing joy to the city and to our followers. That we can give this joy to people makes us feel proud. Today many children have gone to school wearing the Girona shirt.
The focus is very much on Girona and the exceptional feat they are doing.
Yes. We are changing history. We were not the benchmark, it was others, and today everyone in the city feels proud that Girona represents us. This has a lot of global impact, which even surprises us, knowing the importance of football and a league like the Spanish one.
What did Girona do better than Barça to win?
The coach said it, and I think he is absolutely right, this is our strength: that we were ourselves. We continue to be the team that we have been since the preseason, that we have been building. Players with a lot of football quality have arrived and they are playing at a high level. And the fact that we play at a high level is no longer exceptional, it is normal, we do not 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 you?
Both the president and his board congratulated us, before the game, on our performance, and in 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 has to be done now so that this is not a flash in the pan and we can really fight for the title?
The first thing we have to do is not change too much what we are doing. From our responsibility we have to give peace of mind and support to the sporting part. We will win and lose games, but that doesn’t mean we will have to change anything. We have to be realistic and make our way. Whatever happens this season is to enjoy. I always say that we have to enjoy suffering, in a good way. In Montjuic I saw the team and I suffered little, you always have a chance to win, and this 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 locker room?
Yes, I found a lot of joy. Many things are said about whether Girona will continue to maintain the level, and the victory was also a type of personal vindication for the footballers. The players knew that another step forward had been made. And immediately the recovery began and thinking about Alavés. Football has this good and bad. You can’t stop.
Are you enjoying yourself more now as president than as a footballer?
It is a difficult question. I always say that the best thing is to enjoy the countryside. Being a protagonist is priceless.
Would you 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 doing it with your club…
What do you think when they compare them to Leicester?
Lately in every interview they ask us. They were capable of doing it, of being champions. We are only a third into the season. They showed that everything is possible. But we have to go day by day. This is what has gone well 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 incredible. We are ahead of Madrid, which is having a great season, and Barça. They can’t take this away from us anymore. The season is long and it will be difficult for us, the rivals will wait for us and playing against us will be a motivation for the rivals.
Do you expect Montilivi’s third consecutive ‘sold out’ next Monday against Alavés?
I know there is a high demand for tickets. I don’t know if we will ‘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 that the fans cannot 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 you plan to strengthen the team in the winter market?
The sports management is working on this. The league is 38 days long, and there is also the Cup. You have to have a wardrobe. We will try to finish reinforcing the team or make up for any shortcomings we have. It is not easy to improve what we have today. This is a question of the coach and the sports management. We then talk about it and look for solutions to bring what they propose to us.
Mayor Lluc Salellas has said that they are already talking about how to reform Montilivi if he 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, the way things are going, processes are being accelerated. We had the forecast of being in First Division and maintaining it 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 prepared, especially if next season we play in Europe.
Is it a matter of capacity or other things?
Capacity and conditions of the stadium. We have to see what we can do with the time we will have. We need the City Council to be with 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 are making improvements when they can, we will have to see how everything can be adapted.
Also, in the long term, are you contemplating an expansion of Montilivi for 18,000 or 20,000 spectators?
The study is being done. Is not easy. We had a forecast and we have changed them, on the fly, due to the current situation. We want to do it faster. The ownership is very clear that the stadium has to be improved, that we have to have a First Division field so that people have the comforts and services that they do not have now. People think that we do nothing, but it is a very important investment. We cannot do anything that puts the stability of the club at risk. We have believed that the money had to be in the field and that stability would allow us to do things. We are on this path.
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What support should the City Council provide, financially?
There are many things you can do. The stadium is municipal, even though we have the concession. There may be financial aid, or it may help so that improvements can be made quickly in the summer. Access can be improved, the parking problem solved… there are many issues that we have to address.