Pere Guardiola (1976) lives with excitement and a point of disbelief that his Girona could be a Champions League team this weekend. Without depending on anyone else, he needs to beat Barça, a fact that would allow him to regain second place and, in turn, the right to play in the next Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. The president of Girona's board of directors and the club's third largest shareholder sits down to talk with La Vanguardia about the most immediate challenges that the entity has to face both at a sporting and institutional level.
Under normal conditions, beating Barça would be almost a chimera, but this year Girona has shown that it is capable of anything.
Yes, what we have done this season allows us to face the game with complete calm, with enthusiasm and with Gironi pride. We are playing the option of being able to certify qualification for the Champions League, so it is not a game to suffer, but to enjoy.
In the first round they won by playing a great game. Taking into account that they will now play in Montilivi, are they favorites?
No, against Barça and teams of this stature, we can never be favorites. Yes, it is true that this year at Montilivi we are very strong, we are comfortable and our level of football is very high. We make the opponents suffer, we try to subdue them and we hope that this time is no exception.
In any case, Girona was then going through the best moment of the season and Barça was practically going through the worst. How do you see it now?
Seasons have many phases and now we are going through a more even one. When we went to Montjuïc it was one of our great moments, and Barça had some important losses and more doubts. But if we analyze the match, they tied it at three with a header from Lewandowski, and right after we found ourselves at 2-4; Maybe there wasn't that much difference.
But now Barça has just been eliminated from the Champions League and said goodbye to the League against Madrid...
Yes, but despite what happened in these two games, Barça is doing well. They are also playing for second position, and when you consider the big teams dead, they show you that they are not.
And how do you experience a match like this in your family, taking into account what your last name means to Barcelona fans?
At home we are all very happy that Girona is doing well, and when we won in the first round, the family generally received it with joy; yes, in its fair measure.
What would it mean to be second and finish ahead of Barça?
Another joy, but we have to go step by step. This season we are setting goals as we meet the previous ones. First we achieved permanence, then the points record, a few days ago Europe and now it's the Champions League. And if we have the option of second place in front of us, we will fight for it.
Don't you still take the Champions League for granted?
We have it very well, but we are missing a little, and it cannot be taken for granted until it is in the bag. Being moderately optimistic, we have it very good.
A few days ago he already said that the club intends to play it in Montilivi...
It is our priority despite the inconveniences that this may cause us because we would lose capacity. UEFA does not allow the use of extra stands, and that would mean that we would go from 14,000 seats to 9,000. We are trying to negotiate with them and they have yet to give us the definitive answer, but we are not very optimistic.
Is the option of betting on another stadium really feasible?
It is our plan B because UEFA's requirements are diverse, not only with the issue of capacity, also with respect to the press room, the common areas... Our priority is the subscribers, and we will look for formulas so that everyone can enjoy watching Girona playing Champions in Montilivi, but surely the decisions made will never be to everyone's taste.
And all this a few months after starting work on the sports city. Do you think the Champions League prize comes too soon?
No, welcome. It is true that we have an unexpected concern, but it has come to us now and we have to adapt to the situation. Blessed problem.
Could being part of the City Group represent another impediment for Girona in order to play in the Champions League next year?
No. UEFA sets out how timeshares and relationships between clubs in the same group should be, and we are talking to them to comply with all the requirements they ask of us. We will adapt and there will be no problem if we have to face, for example, Manchester City in the same competition.
Nor with the transfer of players between these two clubs, cases of Savinho or Ian Couto?
Not for the moment. Although it is true that UEFA, also adapting to the new reality of football, has been constantly varying these requirements. Therefore, we will have to wait until the end of the season and with qualification for the Champions League in our pocket, if that changes again. In principle there should not be any problem, but we are in the hands of UEFA.
Do you suffer from the departure of other footballers?
This summer things will happen. Girona has placed itself more than ever in the showcase of world football, everyone has seen us, everyone is talking, and this next market Quique Cárcel will once again have a lot of work. But our goal is to maintain the bulk of the current staff. The market will tell us and we will have to adapt to what comes, but the fact of playing in the Champions League, with the football we play, the coach we have... I am convinced that more than one person who had planned to take a leap forward in their career will reconsider the option of leaving.
They have Míchel tied up until 2026... Is it a peace of mind?
Total. And I hope he can be with us for many more years. It will mean that the set objectives are being achieved. Our priority is for him to feel happy, committed and for him to see that from the club we give him all the tools so that he can do the job as well as until now. We have to work to bring him level players that he can exploit as he knows how. If we achieve that, Míchel will be with us for many years. We don't have to think further.
There are already those who see him as a possible replacement for his brother on the Manchester City bench...
I believe that Míchel has the level to coach big clubs, and we are one of them. Girona is a great club (laughs).
