“I once made a bet with Luis Enrique to see who they insulted the most… He won” | Relief

Joan Gaspard decides (Barcelona, ​​11 October 1944) had inherited empire and was or is honorary consul Seychelles in Spain. But if he is recognized for anything, it is for his blue and scarlet blood. First as lieutenant to José Luis Nunez’s vice-president position on the FC Barcelona board (1978–2000) and then as almost ultra-president (2000–03).

That’s how it happened with the club, he invested more Raksa What Senimore passion than reason, and at this moment, having arrived at what they now call A classic he calls “going to the Bernabeu”.,he rips his shirt, puts on a T-shirt, grabs a scarf and analyzes, sings from the south gate like an ultras with a tie, at this time after work which he knows well because he lived in Liverpool. The one that must come.

Why is he from Barça?

Can you ask me a smarter question?

No, I can’t reach him. But hey, where is he now?

I just arrived in Madrid, I have a work meeting and I’m heading back to Barcelona this afternoon.

Where will you watch the game?

At home.

Beer, popcorn…?

No, I don’t drink. Of course, I will suffer, as always, but I am sure that we will win.

Do you remember your first visit to the Bernabeu?

Remember, maybe I went before, the first time was the final of the Generalissimo Cup, with friends, with a huge flag that the police confiscated from me because it went into the box, and they said that the general’s view of the game embarrassed him. Of course it was a lie, but obviously everything about Barcelona was bothering him. I don’t know what year it was, I think we played against Valencia.

Have you been to a bottle party? (Barça won 0-1 against Real Madrid in the 1968 Cup final at the Bernabeu).

Yes, sure. One fell next to me and broke. I have been to the Bernabeu many times, in the stands and in the penalty area. The transition to Madrid is difficult, he will win and learn as a fan, as a vice president, as a president, as a fan… Unfairly disallowed goal in the 90th minute…

Rivaldo? How did you experience it?

That day was difficult. They fined me a million pesetas because I said they robbed us. A million pesetas imposed by the Spanish Federation, of which I was “vice-president” and which I paid out of my own pocket. They condemned me I don’t know how many things. It was the goal that put us ahead.

Were you scared at the Bernabeu?

I’m afraid not, because as a Barça coach I have always been very protected by the police.

But did they hit him?

They beat and insulted me a lot. I once made a bet with Luis Enrique to see who was insulted more.

And who won?

They insulted him even more, hardly. But they insulted him even more. Or rather, his mother. With difficulty, but he won. There were not four of them, it was the entire field. Sometimes to his mother, sometimes to me.

They say about you that you played a lot in the bathroom…

There are many legends. I was in the toilet once and I think I spent a hundred games there. Legends are made of truth, and the truth is that I only survived one match locked in a toilet and that was at Wembley, but there are many legends about me. In this life you do one thing once and you know…

He’ll tell me… What’s Barça’s best game at the Bernabeu?

Man, I’ve seen the best record at home, in black and white and on TV: 0-5. For everything, for the sport and of course for what it meant socially. Rexach, Asensi, Sotil…

Messi always said that he enjoys going to the Bernabeu…

No, I never like to go on the Madrid pitch, even at the Cup final. I don’t like it, I don’t like it. I don’t like anything about Madrid, although I must admit that I have always been treated well, with respect at an institutional level, yes. Just like we are in this club. Another thing, another.

Did Nunez tell him to behave?

Casaus and I went there. But usually I didn’t behave very well. I would have jumped if we had scored a goal. And they weren’t used to anyone breaking protocol, but I couldn’t do anything about it. In the end they got used to it, “it was Gaspard.”

Did you go to mass before the games?

No, no, gymnastics should not be confused with magnesium.

Does God know about football?

No, God doesn’t understand football, he’s not from Barça or Madrid, no. photem.

Which Madrid president did you get along with better?

There was never a problem with this, they were all real gentlemen. And they are: Florentino is a great gentleman. However, I remember that we accidentally did a lot of work for Don Luis de Carlos when we invited him to the final in Basel. And because he was a gentleman, he put on the Barça scarf, because of course, between Barça and these Germans, this man, what was he going to do, he wanted us to win… And I think Marca or AS took his photo.. And he put it on the cover. I had a great relationship with Mendoza, we went on vacation, personal relationships. I had a good relationship with Florentino, and as a businessman he is a real genius, extraordinary, extraordinary… but as the President of Madrid, of course, I don’t even see him…

Is Madrid a state club?

He has an exceptional president, but I think he will have problems because there is no one to oppose him, and this makes him less alive than those in power, they do and destroy, and no one argues with them. And when Florentino leaves the presidency because he is tired or for some other reason, that day they will have problems because they are used to someone telling them what to do without knowing what constitutes opposition. On the other hand, Barça is alive, there are people who want to be president, who express their opinions, stand in elections, who demand, who disagree, and this is positive. Unpleasant for a manager, of course, but demanding.

Have you forgiven Laporta for making you suffer when he was the leader of Elephanta Blau?

I more than forgive, I have forgotten those years. It made me suffer. I was very close to Nunez, but he won the presidency democratically and I will always be close to the Barça president. The main thing is that now the team is working, winning, and for me the most important thing is that the club is working.

But the economy…

I said this the other day at a meeting. I trusted our president. Place.

Did Flick surprise you?

He gets great results out of his players. That’s the whole point. It changed their mentality, but it didn’t make them better; they were already good. I don’t live in the dressing room, but I see them performing at a high level and I think it has to do with their mentality. Raphinha, for example, last year we wanted to get rid of him…

…Speak for yourself, listen to me on SER, I’ll give you audio recordings…

Well, I don’t know your opinion, but it is clear that the performance of many football players has improved, there must be a reason, their work is worthy of praise.

Have you met many Germans: Wesweiler, Lattek, Schuster… What are they like?

Well, everyone is everyone, of course, you can’t generalize. Yes, they have common details… They are very serious, organized coaches. They are direct, with character. A bit like the Catalans, the workers.

Do you see the future of the team?

Yes, we have very young players, I really like Casado, Kubarsi, Fermin, Pedri, we have a lot of talent… And Lamine, I think, is Messi’s successor, he is already the best player in the world.

By the way, they always said that you are very similar to Manolete. Do you like bulls?

No, nothing, I’m a big animal advocate.

Who would you go on a trip with tomorrow?

With my wife, of course.

(Clarification and gratitude. The interview was conducted by telephone for the second time this Friday morning. The first call was on Thursday afternoon, but due to problems beyond my control, it was useless to call me, it was not recorded. Since I was a partner in CountryFrom Zaragoza, who then accused me of making it up – the coward never told me this to my face, but of course I knew it – I never publish an interview unless it is recorded. Therefore, Mr. Joan Gaspard very kindly agreed to serve me a second time. Here it is. And thank you, Don Juan).