The new FC Barcelona head coach spoke at an introductory press conference on Wednesday
Xavi Pascual: ‘I’ve come to Barça for one reason – to win’
Straipsnis
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Xavi Pascual didn’t waste any time setting expectations as he stepped back into the spotlight Wednesday, holding his first press conference in his second stint as FC Barcelona’s head coach. Roughly 50 media members crowded into the room – a turnout big enough that veteran center Jan Vesely joked about it after practice – and Pascual delivered a steady message: the past is off-limits, and the focus is entirely on what comes next.
“I will never make any reference to the past,” Pascual said. “I have a lot of respect for Joan [Peñarroya] and everything he did. From now on, we talk about what we do – good or bad.”
Peñarroya was dismissed 10 days earlier, and interim coach Oscar Orellana guided Barça to a 3-0 week before Pascual’s arrival. Pascual made sure Orellana received his due. “We have to congratulate Oscar and his staff for those three important victories,” he said. “The players have been extraordinary these last two days. The intensity, the concentration… it creates excitement. We’re ready to play.”
Pascual, who previously coached Barça from 2008 to 2016, admitted he always believed a return was possible, even if the timing surprised him. “I always imagined that one day I could come back,” he said with a smile. “I’ve been waiting for the call for eight years, but it never arrived. All over Europe, people told me, ‘You’ll end up back at Barça.’ I didn’t know when, but I always felt it might happen.”
The 52-year-old Catalan coach is one of the most accomplished in club history, having delivered the 2010 EuroLeague title along with four Spanish League and three Spanish Cup trophies during his nine-year run. He made clear that expectations remain unchanged. “I have come to Barça for one reason: to win,” Pascual said. “There are no transition seasons here. We’ll say it loudly – our goal is to compete for every title.”
Despite speculation about midseason roster moves, Pascual insisted he’ll take time to evaluate the group before making any decisions. Every coach and every player, he emphasized, starts with a clean slate. “I make decisions based on what I see and feel,” he said. “That’s why I haven’t changed any staff member. Everyone stays, everyone can show their value. The players will work with me, and based on that, we’ll decide if we need to make a move. Right now, we all have to be on the same page.”
Since leaving Barcelona in 2016, Pascual has coached at Zenit St. Petersburg and Panathinaikos, gaining experience managing different roster styles and taking over midseason, something he believes prepared him for this moment. “Experience is the accumulation of mistakes,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot about the European basketball reality. I’m still the same person, the same coach, but with more perspective and confidence.”
Pascual made it clear he didn’t return to build toward next season. The goal is to be competitive immediately. “This is Barcelona,” he said. “We play to win, not just to be there. I told the players directly: I’m not here to build something for next season. I’m here because I believe we can do big things now.”
After two years away from the EuroLeague, Pascual also acknowledged how meaningful the opportunity is. “I feel like a EuroLeague coach,” he said. “Not being there was hard for me. So I’m very happy to be back – and to do it with my club.”