Pep Guardiola on Barcelona’s financial situation: “I’m worried, the situation is critical”

While Joan Laporta serves his second tenure as Barcelona president, we can turn back and take a look at his first one where, with Pep Guardiola’s help, the club rode into its finest years. The Spanish tactical genius won the treble in his first season of coaching, and modelled an unbeaten team that took over Europe for years.

Now with Manchester City, Guardiola has not forgotten where it all started for him, and his relationship with the people who helped get him here. In an interview with TV3, he talked about the club’s financial situation, saying, “I’m a little worried, yes. I trust Laporta and his people a lot. Apparently, however, the economic situation is very critical.”

As a quick follow up, Guardiola was asked on who is responsible for the state of Barcelona as the world sees it today, hoping to hear the name of a certain Josep Bartomeu. However, he deflected and said, “It’s surprising that this situation has been reached. There is a part due to the pandemic, but no it’s the only reason. Barcelona must be patient. We will have to suffer in the coming years.”

The interviewer asked for Pep’s opinion on Pedri and how he is performing at the highest level despite playing so many games, and his chances of winning the Euros with Spain: “If Pedri is winning the European Championship, it is his merit… A tournament in the summer is enough. It’s too much. The players have to rest. The calendars are an animal. And those who pay are the clubs.”

A question that has become all too mandatory for Pep is his return to Barcelona. He replied quite sharply when asked about it, saying “My coaching period is over. President Laporta knows this, and so does candidate Víctor Font.”

“I am nobody to recommend anything to Laporta,” Pep said when asked if he would recommend Luis Enrique’s name to Laporta.

However, he did suggest a few names when he was cross-questioned for possible future Barcelona managers: “I hope someone like Xavi, Busquets or Mascherano comes. It’s up to them. If you think I can help Barça, I’m happy with life. There must be others who take the step. There are people who are very capable of training Barça, and they would come clean.”