Laporta defends policy for Copa Catalunya
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has defended coach Pep Guardiola'sdecision to field the club's reserve team in the Copa Catalunya.
BarcaAtletic lost 3-1 at Sant Andreu on Tuesday night but home fans andofficials were left irate by the lack of any of the club's Primera Ligastars.
However, in a week of internationals and with their secondPrimera Liga game of the season this weekend. Laporta insists the clubhad no choice.
"We're very upset about what happened because wewanted to come with the first team but it couldn't be," Laporta toldTelevisio de Catalunya. "It's not an easy situation to hear insults butwe're only defending our sporting interests.
"I'm sure that theBarca fans understand our position because it is a very difficult year,we have a new team and very important game are coming up against Racingand Sporting Lisbon."
Espanyol and Barca, the two Primera Ligasides from Catalunya, only join the competition at the semi-final stageto try to avert such problems, but that did not prove possible thisyear.
Some reports even suggested that Barca had ignored agentleman's agreement to field a minimum number of first-team players,a notion Laporta rubbished.
"That pact doesn't exits," he added."We already told the Catalan Federation that it wouldn't be easy toplay this tournament if it coincided with the FIFA dates as it did."
His words will come as little comfort to the thousands of fans, frustrated at having their hopes of seeing Barca stars dashed.
Bannersagainst the club were displayed, one of them with the words 'Laporta +Guardiola = total failure' while chants and jeers rang out during andafter the match, with fans screaming 'Is Barca Catalan? Barca Yes,Laporta No'.
Before the game the town's mayor slammed the Catalan giants' decision, launching an astonishing broadside at the club.
"Thepeople here feel scorned," said Miquel Alonso. "We knew that they wouldplay little, but we hoped that at least they would play a few minutesand that the children could see their idols and ask them for someautographs.
"Some of them wait their whole life without being able to see any one of them.
"Idon't think that by playing 15 minutes there would have been risk of aninjury. If Barca would earn a million euros for playing this game, theywould be here in Sant Carles de la Rapita.
"Guardiola hasdevalued this competition a lot. His decision has put down people'sspirits a bit. Some have even returned their tickets." |
發表於 2008-9-11 10:49 PM
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