Three Barça legends see ‘green shoots’ in Roger Grimau’s team

Manolo Flores, Nacho Solozábal and Ferrán Martinez analyze Roger Grimau’s team in these first stages of the season

“This year the team must rely on the group and there are good reasons to think that they can win important titles,” says Ferrán Martínez

They have only been in the competition for a few weeks, and Roger Grimau’s new project is in the process of growth and maturity involveds in the competition that no longer stops.

A Barça that has not started at full speed, something understandable, with the new additions still in the process of adaptation. And for some former Barça players who have experienced similar situations, they don’t seem to be too worried.

Manolo Flores, Nacho Solozábal and Ferrán Martínez, analyze these first stages of the season for SPORT and they all agree to see ‘green shoots’ in this team that has barely been working together for a long time.

Flores: “Every day they take a step further”

Manolo Flores has lived through many stages of Barça and knows that it is not always easy to arrive and shine in the Barça shirt. “We are at the beginning of the season, with many changes, and a new coach and that takes time,” he explains.

“The team is sure to improve, and right now it is moving within more than correct parameters.” and with some players who must finish settling,” explains the man from Extremadura. “Expectations are very high, as they always have to be at Barça,” he says.

“Right now it is difficult to say where this Barça will go although it has all the possibilities. He has a coach who I see very well, with his calm, hard-working character and he knows a lot about basketball. “I trust this group a lot,” he concludes.

Solozábal: “The players are with Grimau and that is important”

A Barcelona icon and SPORT collaborator, Nacho Solozábal believes that the Madrid match “raised some doubtsbut then against Anadolu Efes, the team was good, and they did it under the pressure of winning in the Euroleague,” he commented.

“The Anadolu match was a turning point for some players like Willy or even Parker, who had good minutes. In the end it is a matter of dynamics and that is what the team needs and I am sure that all the players will come in,” he said.

For Solozábal, “At Barça everything is easier if you win, but you have to be patient, the coach works well and the players are with him, and that is important, working together.”” and he believes that in Europe you can suffer, “because winning abroad is difficult. On the Olympiacos court you have to compete, play good defense and show your face. Then the result will be what it will be,” he concludes.

Ferrán Martínez: “This year the strength must come from the entire group”

The former Barça center follows the team closely despite residing in Andorra. “Every new project takes time.“But the important thing is to arrive well at the key moment, and now the team is being made,” he says, while trusting Grimau’s work.

“Roger works to form a versatile team, where everyone goes to one. “Roger is forming a group that can beat anyone in Europe and I do not rule out that he can win the Euroleague despite some skeptics,” he comments.

“This year the strength must come from the entire group. Now we just need to bring together these newly arrived players and they will surely integrate as the days go by. And obviously, you have to win. It’s good that the team has a lot of pressure because that makes you more competitive,” he says.