The atmosphere at Barcelona Saturday night after winning the Copa del Rey was great. Ronald Koeman’s team was too strong for Athletic Club in the final of the Spanish cup tournament with 0-4 and the joy could be seen on the faces of the players. Everyone wanted to be photographed with the big cup and the club photographer was very busy. A hilarious moment occurred when the Barcelona photographer thought it was a good idea to photograph all Barcelona-trained players with the cup.
Nine players, including Gerard Piqué, Riqui Puig, Ansu Fati and Jordi Alba, were preparing for a photo, when suddenly Ousmane Dembélé appeared, consciously or otherwise. The television camera of Media set recorded how the attacker was jokingly chased away by Piqué, who also laughed and shouted: “You go, you know how much money you have cost the club?” Dembelé came in mid-2017 for 105 million euros, excluding 40 million euros in variable clauses, from Borussia Dortmund and was the most expensive club purchase ever until January 2018, until the arrival of Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool.
FRENKIE DE JONG! 2-0! ??
After his assist on Griezmann, a little later he heads in the second for Barça himself ??#ZiggoSport #CopaDelRey #AthleticBarca pic.twitter.com/YylbT7xBXF
– Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) April 17, 2021
Piqué appeared in front of the camera afterwards Media set. He was euphoric, so he saw himself. “Yes absolutely. This team has managed to turn the situation around. A fresh wind is blowing. I am happy for the older players and also happy for the young. Everyone has worked hard and done their best. The young people have proven that they have a great future ahead of them. Whether we go for all prices? Of course. In 2021, we turned the switch, as if we started from scratch. And the return of Joan Laporta as chairman also creates a lot of illusion. ”
“Winning the double is certainly possible. That would mean that we had a good season. The cup may not be the most important competition, but it does provide a lot of self-confidence. ” Barcelona can fully focus on the battle for the national title in the coming weeks, although the next league game is almost upon the door. Next Thursday, the Catalans will play in and against Getafe. The gap to leader Atlético Madrid is, with eight match days to go, only two points.
Laporta was at least as euphoric as Piqué. “We were looking forward to winning another prize,” emphasized the Barcelona president. “We were in a final again and again against a strong opponent. Our players needed this. I am very happy for the players, for the technical staff and for the supporters. The board wants to win prizes with Barcelona and we have now started with that. I am confident this will be the first of many awards. Lionel Messi? Messi loves Barcelona and Barcelona loves Messi. It’s a dream come true. He has once again shown his class. The best in the world, ”said Laporta, discussing the Argentinian’s future.
“He feels very much at home here. We’re going to do everything we can to make sure he stays here. That’s what we all want. ” Laporta was less certain about the future of Koeman, although the Dutchman has an ongoing contract and the sports director showed at an earlier stage that he did not have to worry. “The technical staff are doing very well and I am happy for them,” said Laporta somewhat curtly.