In a recent interview with Barça One (h/t SPORT), BarcelonaThe club’s sporting director, Deco, gave an insight into various aspects of the club’s operations.
Deco began by addressing the complexities of the summer transfer market, which he described as a difficult period where, despite clear objectives, many factors are beyond the club’s control.
“It’s always a very complicated period. There’s always work to do, but during the transfer window… we had clear ideas and in the end, we tried to do what we had planned little by little.
“Sometimes it’s not easy because many things don’t just depend on what we want. It depends on the decisions of other clubs, of players… We try to control that but we can’t control everything. We’ve done our homework.” he explained.
He expressed satisfaction with the support of President Joan Laporta, stressing that working on Barca It’s about contributing to the club’s legacy rather than seeking personal glory.
“I’m happy because when you work at Barça, the main objective is to be part of something. We are not the stars, but the players and the coaches.
“We are trying to help the club restructure. There was already a restructuring with Xavi, and a league title was won. The coach has changed, but the idea is the same. Players from La Masia and footballers hungry for titles,” Decor noted.
Hansi Flick and his demands
Regarding Hansi Flick, Deco praised the coach’s great experience and his calm and methodical approach.
Flick’s experience in managing top-level teams is reassuring for the club, with Deco highlighting the German’s ability to deal with critical issues and his clear working methods as particularly valued.
“Hansi has the experience, the years are what give you. He has that, he has coached great teams and he knows what it is like to be in a big club. And that gives us peace of mind.
“He’s a calm person, he’s a hard worker, he’s a coach who has clear ideas, he’s very demanding, very clear about what he has to do. And I would define him as a hard worker.”
Young players are arriving
Regarding the young players, Deco expressed his confidence in their development. The club had high hopes for them and the pre-season had allowed them to gauge their potential.
Players like Marc Casado and Fermin Lopez showed promise, while Marc BernalThe performance of has been closely monitored.
Deco noted that the return of Ansu Fati and the signing of Dani Olmo were part of their strategic planning. The aim was to improve the squad without compromising its quality, avoiding the temptation to sell key players despite the offers received.
“We wanted to see during the pre-season the level of the youngsters, how they would evolve at a higher level. Casado, for example, we already knew that.
“We knew Bernal could play perfectly at this level. But we had doubts because of his age. We had to test him. The idea was that if the youngsters worked, we wouldn’t have to go to the market so often.”
Deco discussed the inclusion of Dani Olmoclaiming that he brought qualities that the team lacked, such as link-up play and goal scoring. Although Fermin has similar attributes, Olmo’s profile was seen as a necessary addition to balance the team.
“Within what we had planned, we found the balance. The signing of Olmo gives it to us, it’s a different profile. Raphinha, “We had people who had us. There were offers, but we didn’t want to lose anyone important.”
“Let’s not forget that we have Gavi, Frenkie, who is still recovering, we have Ronald, Christensen. When they come back, the problem will be for the coach because they will not be able to play all the time.
“I think last year we had a smaller squad. This year, Hector and Sergi Dominguez can play… they’ve taken a step forward.”
When asked why Olmo, he replied: “Because Dani is the midfielder we were missing. There was a lot of quality, but Dani was a player we were missing.
“He knew that Barça was his dream, especially to win titles. It’s not enough to come, you also have to want to win and have ambition.”
He also spoke about the importance of Pau Victorwho was on loan last season but has now joined the team on a permanent basis. Victor’s versatility and enthusiasm were seen as valuable assets.
“He was an important player last season. He was a player who was on loan, he wasn’t ours. We had the opportunity to keep him and that’s what happened.”
Fair Play Regulations and Xavi
Fair play rules were another topic discussed, with Deco acknowledging their impact on the club’s decision-making.
While these rules may limit transfer activity, the club have had to manage them carefully, ensuring that any new signings would improve rather than dilute the quality of the squad.
“Fair play touches everything. It is a very debatable subject. The league must have rules, but it must adapt.
“With a 1:1 ratio, we could perhaps have recruited more players. But not for the sake of recruiting. We couldn’t lower the level.” explained Deco.
Finally, Deco spoke about Xavi’s contribution to the club, stressing that he played a crucial role during a period of transition. Xavi’s successes and his efforts to integrate new talent have been essential to the club’s progress.
“Xavi has been very important for the club in a difficult period, a change of cycle. Important players who have won things and we have to renew the team.
“He won a league when people didn’t expect it. Xavi allowed important players for the club and for the future to make their debuts. He did his job and contributed to the growth process. I’m clear about that.” Decor noted.
Club decision making
When it comes to decision-making, Deco explained that the process involves in-depth discussions and careful consideration.
“We talk with the coach, we analyze the positions. When we lost Bernal, we had Christensen and Araujo out of the game. The central defenders and the pivots. But at the same time, we were close to recovering Gavi and Frenkie.
“The coach was the first to say that if we couldn’t get back to our level, we could continue with what we have. We are thinking, “We don’t make hasty decisions.”
Looking ahead, Deco believes the current Barcelona squad is competitive, with many high-calibre players attracting interest from other clubs.
This is testament to the strength of their squad and their potential to compete at the highest level. Deco’s optimism suggests the team is well placed to improve on last season’s performance and make a significant impact.
“When you look at other teams… we have players who are European champions, who the market wants. We could have sold 4, 5, 6 players or even more. It’s a sign that we have a strong squad if clubs come knocking at your door.” he said.
