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The Flashing Lights
I walked slowly into the conference hall, flanked by Sandro Rossell on one side and my assistant manager on the other, I wondered what a bizarre and unexpected turn my life had taken in the past 48 hours. From being retired to being back into soccer, as a manager. And that of the Blaugrana of all the teams in the world. I wouldn’t have done it for any other team though. As the doorman opened the door for me and I stepped inside, I was nearly blinded by lights flashing here and there. Welcome to the life of a football manager, I told myself.
I composed myself as I took my chair and looked at the press reporters, quite frankly, it didn’t really feel so intimidating, perhaps because I had done interviews as a player before and I was comfortable with the press.
Sandro started the proceedings, “As you all might have been informed, FC Barcelona have decided to announce club icon Andrés Iniesta as the new manager of FC Barcelona.” He took a short pause “As promised earlier, this is his first interview with the press in his new role and you are welcome to ask questions. Andres will take it from here”.
Just as he said those words, I felt the limelight shift to me. Way to go Andrés. This is your first step.
I could see a number of hands rise up in the air, waiting to ask questions. Sandro chose which journalist would get to ask me the first question of my managerial career.
“Hi, first of all Andrés, congratulations on being appointed manager. How does it feel? And what do you plan to …..”
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Barcelona appoint surprising candidate as manager
24 July 202 - Barcelona
FC Barcelona, the in trouble Catalan giants, who terminated former coach Luis Enrique’s contract after he failed to bring silverware in his fourth season as well, have appointed former player and club icon Andrés Iniesta as the new manager. This comes as a surprise appointment as Andrés, though being one of the greatest Barcelona players in recent memory, lacks any qualification to be the manager of the Catalan club and has no prior managerial experience. Since Luis Enrique’s departure, many were touting former FCP boss Paulo Fonseca to succeed Luis Enrique at Nou Camp, however Fonseca accepted the offer from Arsenal and will be managing The Gunners on a four year contract now.
Yesterday, Barcelona held a press conference to unveil their new manager, and although admitted that this would seem as a shock appointment, and something that looked like something of a gamble, club president Sandro also insisted that “Andrés has what it takes”. In yesterday’s conference when asked why Sandro thought Iniesta was the man for the job, the Barcelona president replied, saying “Andrés spent his whole career, indeed his whole life at Barcelona. He is also an experienced player which means that he will be able to read the game better than others. In times like these, we need someone like him, who knows the club, and La Masia, inside out. And this will definitely help us focus our efforts on La Masia – which would be bolstered by the appointment of one of its graduates as manager”
During his first press conference, Andrés Iniesta faced a number of questions, excerpts of which are available below.
Press: Hello Andrés, congratulations on the appointment. How does it feel? And what are your initial plans?
Andrés: Hi. Thank you so much for your wishes. It feels ecstatic, to be back to my boyhood club, something I hold so dear to me. It is a very good feeling. It is a surreal feeling really. My plan is to help the team achieve bigger things, because I believe that a team with so many good players can definitely perform better.
Press: How do you feel towards club president Sandro Rossell?
Andrés: I respect Sandro, a lot. And I feel that we are in a sync. Our vision of what the club should be like, of what it should achieve and how it should function is the same, and both of us want to do all in our power to ensure that vision comes to reality.
Press: On that note, Mr Iniesta, what do you think is the key to the relationship between you and Mr Sandro?
Andrés: Umm, I think the key to this working relationship we have is that we have known each other for quite some time, and there is constant communication between us. This helps us get ideas across and we can really strive to improve the club.
Press: What are your views on the facilities at Barcelona considering the recent criticism that the club has faced for not keeping up with the changing times?
Andrés: The facilities are very good, I have to say that, but at the same time, I think there is scope for upgrade. As you said, we haven’t really kept up with the times and thus cannot claim to have the best of facilities, as was once the case. However, I assure all fans that this will not be the case for long. As a matter of fact, yesterday, me and Mr Rossell had quite a chat about the youth and training facilities at the club and I am pleased to announce that Mr Rossell has agreed to invest a collective sum of £8 million to improve both youth and training facilities one notch higher.
Press: Would you shed some light on who you will be looking at in the transfer market? And what are your opinions on previous manager Luis Enrique’s forays into the transfer market? How do you feel about working with a depleted budget?
Andrés: To be quite frank with you, I am very happy with our squad as of now, I think we have the right mix of youth and experience to tackle the coming season. Luis did a good job with transfers and I will not be making a foray into the transfer market, unless there is an exceptional player available in the near future. Any deal that will possibly be made will happen during the next transfer window.
Sandro: Okay, now this will be the last question please!
Press: There is some speculation as to how you will perform this season. Would you like to share with us your expectations for the season?
Andrés: I will do my best, and the results will do the talking. Thank you for your time.
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As I walked out of the conference room, I gave myself an imaginary pat on the back,
Well done Andrés, you did good. Now that my first conference was out of the way, I could now focus on the pre season.
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