FCBARCELONA.CAT

31.07.2009 21:29

Laporta: “We will always have fond memories of him”

David Saura (enviat especial) / Jordi Clos

manager Bobby Robson. The president described him as a “gentleman of football” and highlighted the “personal and professional” legacy he left, whilst coach Guardiola spoke of the “marvelous experience” of working with him.

As soon as he awoke in the United States, Joan Laporta was told of the death of Sir Bobby Robson. The club president had the following to say about the sad loss of the former manager. “We will always have personal and professional memories of him. He was a gentleman of football, and at Barça he also won a treble (Super cup, Cup Winners Cups and Copa del Rey)”.

Robson’s year

Laporta remembers the year that Robson was in charge of the team. “It came at a time when we had won everything and in the time he was with us he got some good results. We are very grateful for that … only a man of his experience could have dealt with the situation like he did.” As the president remembers, he had one of the best careers behind him of any manager in his day.

Last visit

Sir Bobby Robson was back in Barcelona only recently for professional reasons. “He came to the Camp Nou not long ago and we had the pleasure of looking after him. He really was a charming man, a true gentleman. Nobody could have a bad word to say about him”. Laporta also said that “he always spoke well of Barça and always showed great love for the club”. He added that FC Barcelona would be represented at the former manager’s funeral, probably by one of the vice presidents.

Guardiola: “I was so lucky to know him”

Pep Guardiola played under Robson during his time at the club and after training also spoke of his sadness at the loss of his ex-manager: “I was so lucky to know him. It was a pleasure and a privilege, not just as a manager, but also as a person. It was a marvelous experience”.

Giuardiola remembers the 96/97 season as: “a complicated year, even though we won three competitions. He showed he knew how this game works and he was determined to stick to his ideas. Despite all the problems there were that year he never lost his composure and always behaved like a gentleman”.

Untroubled by doping allegations

Finally, Guardiola explained he was “untroubled” by the decision of the Italian Olympic Committee to reopen the doping case brought against him when he was a Brescia player: “it’s a minor matter. As far as I’m concerned I’ve been cleared and that’s it”. Guardiola was cleared by the Brecsia appeals couort in 2007 and again in 2009 by the Italian Football Federation.