Laporta Brags About Barça's 48 Champions Titles?!
FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta, in his speech opening the ordinary meeting of the club's Senate, asserted that the club will deliver "positive operational results" after three years of his tenure and emphasized that they have saved the club "from ruin."
He also proudly stated, "We have 48 European cups. We are the largest multi-sport club in the world," in response to Real Madrid's latest Champions League title in men's football, highlighting achievements not only in men's sports but also in women's and other sports.
"We are financially stabilizing the club as quickly as possible without jeopardizing its future or ownership model. As long as I preside over FC Barcelona, it will always belong to its members. We have saved Barça from ruin and are now nearing the end of this journey through the desert," he declared.
Laporta explained to the 95 senators present at the Auditori 1899 of the Spotify Camp Nou that "after much effort, boldness, and brave decisions," the club will deliver "positive operational results," attributing these "green shoots" to the adherence to the viability plan established since his return to the presidency in 2021.
"We have increased revenue, reduced the sports wage bill by 180 million euros, and significantly cut general club expenses. We have done this while rejuvenating the first football team, which now has much greater market value," he highlighted.
Laporta emphasized that his management has been marked by "professionalism and resilience," and while he acknowledged the "disappointment" because the men's football team "has not achieved its goals," he encouraged those present to focus on the positives, particularly the "emergence and consolidation in the first team of players trained at La Masia."
The president assured that the youth academy is "the cornerstone" of the current project and expressed confidence that "sporting success will return" under the direction of the new coach, German Hansi Flick, whose appointment he justified by the need for "a new impetus." "We chose a proven and serious coach. He will lead us to success," he added.
However, Laporta also remembered the dismissed Xavi Hernández: "He took over the team at a difficult time. Thank you for your professionalism, for your work, for giving us a historic league and a magnificent Supercup, and for believing in the young players." "Flick understands this philosophy," he said.
Finally, Laporta thanked those present for allowing "institutional stability" and for knowing "how to distinguish between legitimate criticism and orchestrated campaigns to weaken Barça and its representatives."
In this latter category, he included the Negreira case, which he described as "a baseless attack" aimed at "discrediting the club and destabilizing Barça." "The rulings have proven us right because there was never any action to gain any sporting advantage. And they knew it. The club is the first interested party in having a thorough investigation because its reputation is at stake," he emphasized in conclusion.