FCBARCELONA.CAT

12.10.2008 10:33

Bonano: “To play in goal is a matter of pride”

Berta Brau

Roberto Bonano paid a visit to FC Barcelona recently and stated that he believes that it will be a balancing act to keep all three goalkeepers at his former club happy during the current season.

On Wednesday, the Argentinian custodian visited the Blaugrana’s Ciutat Esportiva complex to say hello to friends that he knew during his time in the squad between 2001 and 2003. Bonano was met by a number of faces that he knew, including goalkeeping coach Juan Carlos Unzué. While at the training ground, Barça TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat caught up with the former number one and he explained his feelings on the squad containing three goalkeepers this term.

“Three goalkeepers is complicated”

With the trio of shot-stoppers on the books, Bonano gave his view from the outside. “It is always more usual to see two goalkeepers in a first team squad, with one playing regularly and the other waiting for their chance,” he said. “But in the case of having three goalkeepers it could be complicated because if everyone is playing well and the three are all at their best. That is why, generally, there are two goalkeepers and occasionally one will be promoted from the youth team to learn, but will then play for the B team.”

A good atmosphere

At FC Barcelona, the team has a number one in Víctor Valdés and it is vital that there is a good atmosphere and that everyone works together. “It is necessary that there is a good working environment because the two goalkeepers that do not play regularly need the intensity at training every day so that the number one sees the level of competition that is there and so that they have patience to wait for a chance to play in the cup games or at any given moment,” he said.

Working hard

“When one plays for such a big club like Barça, whether you are second, third or fourth choice, you have to work to your maximum because in football so much can change and it could be that a keeper that is third choice for one coach can be first choice for another,” Bonano continued.

“It is also a matter of personal pride because when you go into training you have to be at your best all of the time in order to help the squad,” he explained. “You need to show that you are willing and ready to work hard in a good atmosphere and compete with the regular goalkeeper to ensure that everything goes well.”

Playing with Valdés

During the 2002/03 campaign, Bonano was in the same squad as Valdés when the Catalan keeper was making his first appearances for the club after being promoted from the B team. “I saw his first few games for the club and he did well and we knew that he had a lot of quality and a special personality because to be the keeper at Barça you need to have character and to be able to handle criticism.”

Number one

Bonano only had good words to say about Valdés and the way that he has performed for the Blaugrana in recent seasons as he said that the keeper “had shown just how good he is during all that time”. Since Andoni Zubizarreta left the club, Barça have regularly signed goalkeepers, but “due to his performances and displays, Valdés has kept the number one jersey and Barça have barely needed to think about anyone else”.