Sergi Barjuán: "Romario had a huge impact on me"

Sergi Barjuán: "Romario had a huge impact on me"

| sport

In an interview given to SPORT, the Barça B coach spoke about everything from the Dream Team to his experience in China

In an interview given to SPORT, Sergi Barjuán has spoken about everything from Barça's legendary 'Dream Team' to the time he spent in China and his difficulties in learning the language. In this discussion, he also touched on the figure of Johan Cruyff, the differences between today's academy players and those when he first joined La Masia and his opinions on the new rules that are reportedly being brought in that could change the game forever.

Who was Barça's best full back during the 'Dream Team' years: Albert Ferrer or Sergi Barjuán?

Look, if I picked up lots of things from one player it was 'Chapi'. He improved me as a player, because he was more experienced than I was when I first started playing in the first team.

"If I picked up lots of things from one player it was 'Chapi'".

What struck you most about Johan Cruyff?

He didn't hide in the face of problems, he always faced them head on. It's true that it was his way of thinking - his only way of thinking - but this really struck me.

Who is the best player that you have ever played with?

Ufff. I always say that I have played with the 'three Rs': Romario, Ronaldo and Rivaldo. Just imagine. They are three totally different players, but for the way he played that was so different to Barça at the time, I would say that Romario. He was a real box-to-box player and he had a huge impact on me.

"I always say that I have played with the 'three Rs': Romario, Ronaldo and Rivaldo. Just imagine."

Has the attitude or behaviour of academy players changed since when you first joined the club as a young player?

They say that it has changed a lot, but I've only just arrived here. The people close to the player talk a lot, particularly when things are going badly. They've got that little devil on their shoulder, whispering things into their ear. But if they come to you, they can talk to you about things and discuss their problems with you. And you need to be honest with them. By working in this way, we can help to develop amazing players.

What do you think of the new rules that are reportedly being brought in, such as playing two 30-minute halves with stoppages when the ball goes out of play?

Until these rules are actually brought in, my thoughts on them don't really matter. For me, it would be the first time in my career that I've been able to make five changes in a game. But these are things that you can't do until these rules are brought in.

"When things are going badly [...] they've got that little devil on their shoulder, whispering things into their ear. [...] You need to be honest with them. By working in this way, we can help to develop amazing players".

How many words or expressions did you learn during your time in China?

Quite a few, actually, but don't ask me to repeat them because I don't remember them now. Look, I'll tell you a simple one: "Xiè, xiè", which means 'thanks' in Chinese.

Well, ‘xiè, xiè’ very much, Sergi.

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