Benedito: "Guardiola will stay for many more years"

Barcelona presidential candidate Agustí Benedito gave an interview to Catalan local radio station Radio Cabrera and Catalan online sports paper Yoya.


Your project wants to continue with the current model or break with it?
The project of 2003, if updated and renewed, is still very valid and I think that the majority of the club members agree with this. It's about making sure that the rest of the club is on par with the sporting results of the football team, which isn't the case at this moment. After a lot of years inside and outside the club, you end up having your own ideas about how you would like Barça to be, and you see that this is shared by many people. Because of all this and after it has become clear that the continuity project as well as the project of Rosell are different from our vision on the club, we decided to create this alternative.

Will you change something about the sports structure?
We have our own ideas, that include some modifications, but the final proposal should be agreed upon by Guardiola. But the sports area is surely the one we will touch least. In other areas there have to be more serious changes.

If you're elected as president, will you stop the co-operation with Guardiola if he would demand things that are not compatible with your ideas?
It is impossible that this would happen. I am convinced that Guardiola will not raise demands that go against the general interest of the club. We are anxious to talk with Guardiola so we can explain him our plan. I'm sure that we will find an agreement and that he will be with us for many more years.

Will you arrive at the final vote alone, that is without making a pact with anyone?
Of course. We had a hard time making the decision to start with a candidacy, it takes a lot effort, and not just financially. A pact is not a possibility for us because we are distanced from the other projects and I see no way we could fit together.

Why have you said in some media that you think the continuism has no chance to win?
After having spoken in person with over 1.400 club members, a number that allows you to have an idea of the state of mind of the fans, I have seen a large rejection of the continuism.

What will be the importance of the fan clubs in your project?
The fan clubs are the representatives of Barça in their region. They have presented us their "project for the 21st century", it is very interesting and it can be improved at some points.

Will you continue with UNICEF on the shirt or will you seek revenues through shirt sponsoring?
Barça is the most feared team on the pitch and we want it to be the most loved around the world. The collaboration with Unicef was a great decision but there is still a long way to go. We will maintain the collaboration and we will expand it. If we eventually would be forced to look for a sponsor, we are allowed to do this by the vote of the Assembly of 2003 or 2004, I do not remember it exactly, but I'm not at all in favour of seeking external sponsorship.

this was the first part of this interview. you can read the second part here.

Read more:
Benedito wants to be the third way
Logo and first campaign slogan Benedito revealed
Benedito: "Stadium shouldn't be visible from the moon"

interview: uri bruguera