Zubizarreta: I’m working normally for next season, the same as I was two weeks ago

Barcelona sporting director, Andoni Zubizarreta downplayed his rejected resignation last week, after the club was banned over the illegal signing of youth players, but the former goalkeeper insisted that it’s in the past and that he is working hard for next season with the trust of the board.


In an interview with reporters at the airport, Zubi discussed his offer to resign and stressed that despite the transfer ban, he is preparing as normal.

“This subject has passed.  The important thing is to be in sync with the Board and to have their confidence.  The meeting was the same as the ones we’ve had before.  I think there are much more important things happening for Barcelona.
“We won’t discuss the meeting with the president.  What is important is the full support of the board, which is the way I’ve always felt, and total harmony with the president.  I regret that my name has made headlines over the referendum, which is a major deal for Barcelona.  It’s in the past and I feel empowered.  I don’t like to talk about things that take place in meetings.  I’m working normally for next season, the same as I was two weeks ago.”
Indeed, there are, as Barcelona face Spanish rivals Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League tie on Wednesday evening and Zubizarreta spoke about the difficult task ahead of his squad.
“Favourites? That’s for the bookmakers.  Barcelona will do whatever they can.  This is a tie, we know how it is.  We know what we have to do.  We’ll play at our highest level and on Wednesday we want to board the plane going to the semi-finals., but our opponents have the same intentions.  This will all be decided on the small details.
“Every time we’ve played them it’s been very even, but every game is a new game, which has its own circumstances and unpredictability.  It will be a very close match.”
Zubi then discussed the threat of Diego Costa, before going on to discuss the renewal status of aging goalkeeper, Jose Manuel Pinto.
“Costa is a player with great determination.  We feels comfortable in very intense and important games, as are our players in these high intensity and high demand matches.
“Conversations with Pinto were transparent.  He’s working knowing the situation we’re in.  But every week something changes and we have to be prepared for everything.  When you have a plan, sometimes plans change.  He knows our position and the communication has been very clear.”