Jesús Velasco bet heavily on Barça last summer despite being forced to significantly lower his cache and assume the economic problems that plagued the club last summer and that have led to a shorter squad and with only two left-handers, Matheus and the injured Esquerdinha.
After winning the Super Cup and the Spanish Cup, The coach lifted the Champions League this Sunday after beating Sporting de Portugal (4-0) in a final played in Riga that has had a clear Barça color since Sergio Lozano’s 1-0.
Happy and satisfied, the man from Toledo explained at a press conference how he saw the match. “The last six minutes of the semi-final against Benfica, the second half and the entire final have been at a tremendous level of play, tactical discipline, player courage, camaraderie… It has been a clinic, but specifically against Sporting we have been at a magnificent level”explained the former Inter coach.
“I am in this club to try to win as much as possible and this title is an immense joy for all the problems we’ve had. All titles are unforgettable. It is my first year here and we have managed to win the European Cup in my first season, which is a huge success due to the difficulty of the season, with the injuries, with so many games for the players for the World Cup, the European Championship and the Copa América “, he analyzed.
Velasco’s Barça has no ceiling
| UEFA FOOTBALL
“In addition, the players were not used to my mechanisms and my systems and it has been an important change for everyone. Sometimes I’m surprised at how well we’re doing. It has been an unforgettable final for me”, Velasco congratulated.
The man from Toledo also had recognition for the rest of the coaching staff. “Matheus lacked time to play. I have a medical and technical staff that allow us to do this kind of thing. In the end we all go together. The doctor doesn’t want him to play and I want him to play, we get into a room, We tell each other everything and in the end we reach an agreement. We had analyzed everything and agreed that it had to start entering this week,” he said.
“Everything has gone perfectly and now we see that we have done very well as happened in his day with Sergio Lozano when we agreed that he would not go to the World Cup. Last week Pito and Ferrao wanted to play against Zaragoza at all costs, there was a meeting and we had to trust the professionals and the doctor, the physical trainer and I seconded each other. It has been key that the three have been able to be here in Riga“, continued.
Velasco also beat Nuno Dias
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As for the wrestling that futsal continues to become, Jesus Velasco he strongly disagrees but he is clear that either that level goes away “or you don’t win the game. That is the problem, which is becoming more and more. My players are used to playing these games, they are competitive and have enormous physical, technical and tactical capacity and I have said so from the first moment. We have the best squad in the world and we are performing as such despite all the problems”. Until then, he prevailed with his approach to Sportinguista coach Nuno Dias.
The three-time champion of the Champions recalled his sabbatical year and how important this title is also on a personal level. “At the time I saw that I shouldn’t fulfill my last year of contract with Inter, because I was going to stop performing at my highest level. I don’t have any problem with external pressure. It doesn’t affect me at all, because my biggest critic is me. . Now I see that I am qualified to manage a monster like this of players, squad and club. In addition, I have an incredible staff and I am delighted with everyone, “she concluded.