Not as clear as they try to show
Barcelona’s football chess: Guardiola and Rosell, who will resign first?
After Frank Rijkaard’s era, Laporta made the shocking decision of hiring Pep Guardiola as a new coach thought there were more proven names on the list of candidates. Laporta’s decision was not only based on sport reasoning, but also a well calculated attempt to ease the pressure of the fans during that period of mess. There were lot of doubts regarding Pep’s experience and readiness for the job. Yet, there is no other figure in world football that Barcelona fans will sympathize with more, even if they are not that convinced of his qualities for the job. That meant fewer headaches for the board facing a motion of no confidence campaign that may end up throwing them out of power.
In his first season, he was the new coach hired by Juan Laporta and Txiki Begiristain. So he had no reason to complain. His second season was the election’s year. The last thing the board wanted is to make the most popular figure, player, and coach upset after winning everything possible for the club. That’s why –for example- they were not able to oppose his will, when he demanded paying 25 million for an unproven Chegrnskiy. Even though, the Sporting Director –Txiki- refused to fulfill the request, Laporta decided–for the first time may be- to face Txiki’s complains and support Guardiola, paying the bill with a smiley face while packing the Ukrainian to the coach.
Election campaigns started, and one of Sandro’s tools to criticize Laporta and his reign was attacking Txiki Begiristain’s transfers’ decisions. In Laporta used to consider hiring Txiki as the best decision he made since he was elected as a club president. Pep was originally demanding more empowerment in transfer decisions. Sandro took that as an opportunity and announced that he want to give Pep the authorities Alex Ferguson has as a club manager. Out of sudden, Pep started to point out that as a coach, he already have lot of responsibilities that he can’t add more work on his table. He even revealed being satisfied with the relation he has with Txiki. Sandro ignored that one by telling the press that if he became the president, he will set with the coach and do what’s needed to keep him settled. An election statement that only aims to generate votes and clear concerns.
Txiki Begiristain left his post with Laporta, and Sandro became the new president of Barcelona. His reputation of interfering in the coach’s work followed him all the way. To face such claims he decided to hire a new Sporting director- something he opposed when he was a vice president in Laporta’s board and was one of the reasons of the big conflict between the two men. Even with all the votes he earned in the elections, he was still aware that his popularity is conditional while Pep’s adulation is permanent between the supporters. So he made a smart compromise picking one of Pep’s closest friends -Andoni Zubizarreta- as a Sporting director. Yet, he took the decisions he needed for the first season even before officially announcing the sporting director appointment. Not only he signed a player –a good transfer though- but even sold a player who was no one but Pep’s victory over Txiki: Chegrnskiy!
Since day one, there were lot of signs that the relation between the two men is not exactly as good as it was between the previous board and the coach. Pep preseason’s interview was a sign, if we read between the lines. Maybe, it’s just the impact of the change in management. Maybe with time they will find the chemistry needed to perfect the environment. Yet, lot of factors will play a role in that matter. I believe the following two seasons will be vital for the two figures.
If the team fails during the first season, it is unlikely that Pep will resign. He can’t leave after a failure if he has any hope to generate future success. Having Barcelona’s squad will no doubt tempt that hope. It is well known that he has his ambitions that exceed coaching the club. Even before becoming the coach he was engineering a group of notable figures for future presidential elections. Resigning after failure is not a good start. Unless if he will resign and blame Rosell for being responsible of the failure. I don’t see Pep doing that. In return, Sandro’s reputation since Rijkaard’s days for being someone who has no tolerance with coaches will give him no chance to fire the popular coach. In fact it will be an opportunity for him to clear that accusation one and for all. He is smart enough not to waste that chance.
One bad season may not be enough to fire Sandro as well. But if it adds on other factors that the first presidential year generates, it may lead to a shocking early voting. For many years, Sandro enjoyed what we can call the blessing of resistance. As any party in any country, while it is not in the government they can enjoy an increasing popularity simply by criticizing the ones in power. The moment they rule is the moment they start losing that attractiveness. Still, it’s extremely unlikely that Sandro will have troubles to survive after the first season.
If the club succeeds in the first season, there is a higher possibility for Pep to resign. He is the son of the club and he knows that he will never be a lifetime coach for Barcelona. At this club, it’s important to know when to accept a responsibility but what’s more important is to know when to abandon the ship before it drowns.
After the club fails in two consecutive seasons, regardless if Pep will be still there or not, Sandro will be in a big trouble. If Pep leaves after the first season and the club fails in the second one, then Sandro is most likely out. There will be some inevitable whispers that Sandro forced Pep out after beating the continuity candidates one year earlier. All those who contributed in the clubs success will be out when the team fails. No other scapegoat beside the once-worshiped president.
As long as Sandro can manage to avoid failing in two consecutive seasons, he can survive. Yet there are lots of factors that will play a role to make his life easier or more complicated. What helped him a lot in his election campaign were Laporta’s mistakes. The former president obsession in his political future created lot of enemies in Catalonia. Some of the most influential figures felt insecure toward Laporta’s antiques and they supported slapping him on the face by defeating his continuity candidate in the elections. Now that Laporta is a politician you can’t exclude bargaining in that market. You will sense such compromises in the press behavior and how friendly or violent it will be toward the current Barcelona board.
Sandro Rosell already raised some eyebrows with all the smoke bombs he threw regarding the financial stability of the club. He will not be able to keep doing so and soon he will be judged based on his own performance as a President and not for the critical thesis he make against the former board.
