Joan Laporta hits out at critics – ‘They impose a narrative that has nothing to do with reality’ | OneFootball

Joan Laporta’s second presidency has not been as flowery as his first, but a large part of that boiled down to the complicated financial situation he inherited from the previous board.

The new president has had to put in a lot of work to bring the club back to financial stability, and while they are still not completely recovered from its effect, they have returned to the 1:1 rule in what is a massive development.

Despite his work, however, he has been at the receiving end of serious criticism for various topics from Olmo’s registration saga to the poor finances.

Laporta talks criticism and hard work

In his recent media interaction, Barcelona president Joan Laporta spoke on the work his board has put in over the past few years, the criticism around them, and the recent calls for his resignation.

“Four years ago, we were given the trust to lead the club, and since then, we have relied on four fundamental pillars,” he began.

Outlining the four pillars, he said,

“First, increase revenue. Second, reduce the wage bill, while ensuring that the team does not lose its competitiveness.”

“Third, maintain the cooperative ownership model without compromising it. And fourth, ensure that members do not bear any additional financial burden during the recovery process,” he added.

Laporta then insisted that his board cleared all four objectives that were initially planned and how they went about that task.

“This was achieved, and it was not a coincidence, randomness, or the result of individual decisions by the president, but rather the result of meticulous work.”

“From the beginning, we developed a solid strategic plan, which is evaluated weekly by the competent bodies in the club,” he elaborated.

Praising his team for their dedication and hours of endless effort, he said,

“This success has also been achieved thanks to the talent, knowledge, intelligence, and audacity of the club’s executives, who work with great efficiency.”

“We worked and we worked well, from the board of directors to the executives, to all the club’s employees, both men, and women,” he added.

Laporta had been under intense pressure due to the registration saga. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

On the role of the entire hierarchy of the club’s administration and the work put in at all levels, he said,

“This achievement was achieved because, from the beginning, we had a clear strategic plan in place, which we continued to consolidate and adhere to.”

“It was reviewed weekly by the club’s oversight bodies, and by the executives who closely followed the implementation of this strategic plan.”

On the hurdles and criticism

Speaking on the hurdles his team has had to face in recent weeks, Laporta revealed that he was not surprised and insisted that the world has generally been against Barcelona largely, especially at times when the team has done well.

“It is no coincidence that whenever Barcelona returns to the forefront of world football, many parties, supported by various media outlets, appear to try to impose a disgraceful narrative that has nothing to do with reality.”

“They impose a narrative that has nothing to do with reality. This approach is repeated periodically, and we know each other well. Once again, I celebrate being able to say that they did not succeed in achieving their objectives,” he insisted.

Speaking on how the club’s enemies failed at their objective to destabilise the board the Barcelona president said,

“The others were unsuccessful in their efforts, because the vast majority of Barcelona members understood that what was happening was an attack and an attempt to destabilize the club.”

“It was a new attack on the club’s emblem, and as we have always said, the Barcelona emblem is not to be desecrated.”

The Spanish businessman then made a statement that his board would never allow the club’s crest to be tarnished.

“We have repeatedly made it clear that any campaign aimed at tarnishing the club’s image will not prevent us from remaining a global reference in the world of sport, nor will it prevent Barça from being a club loved and admired by millions around the world.”

The president then spoke on the criticism aimed towards him in recent weeks, saying,

“Look, I’m quite used to receiving criticism, it’s become a normal part of my life. I’m also used to dealing with behaviour that goes beyond all moral rules, and to be honest, unfortunately, I’ve adapted to this reality.”

“But what I cannot accept in any way is to be criticized based on lies. This is unacceptable. I also cannot allow this criticism directed at me personally to be used as an excuse to attack the club or destabilize the team,” he added.

Sending a message out to the club’s haters, he said,

“Those who seek to destabilize us, whether from within or without, will have to work hard to bring us down. And they will have to work even harder if they aspire to destabilize a club with a history spanning more than 125 years.”

On calls for his resignation

Laporta was asked to resign by opposition groups. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

In recent weeks, several of Laporta’s presidential rivals and former presidential candidates came out openly calling for his resignation.

“I think they missed a golden opportunity to prove that they love Barcelona, ​​and they didn’t take advantage of it. They sided with those who wanted to harm us, and supported a media that was very hostile towards us,” Laporta said on his opponents.

He then called them out for their double standards of not appreciating the good work done but pouncing on errors beyond his control.

“Now that the club is starting to recover, we are on the right track, we have fixed the economic situation, we have achieved a 1:1 balance, we have started building a new stadium, we have a competitive team, suddenly they are everywhere.”

“I don’t know where this opposition was when we were going through the toughest times, but now they all seem to be in a hurry,” he added.

He then sent a strong message to those who sided against the club in these weeks of tension.

“I respect those who are calling for my resignation, but does anyone think that the president of Barcelona could resign because of a decision made by La Liga or the Spanish Federation?”

“Does anyone think that I could resign because of an administrative decision from these bodies? At least they should have known that we would not give up so easily, right?” he added

Source: Mundo Deportivo