Barça B coach García Pimienta (46) talked to SER Catalunya about his team’s form, La Masia players with Barça DNA, and his future.
After being on the verge of promotion to La Liga Smartbank last season, FC Barcelona B now stands third in their group in the Segunda División B with 23 points from 15 games after beating L’Hospitalet 6-0 on Sunday. This is what García Pimienta had to say:
On not having the full squad available:
“There are difficult weeks when we have up to ten of our players training with the first team, this has a lot of influence on the preparations for our games. Those who have been here for years know how the club works, and we don’t make any excuses.”
On the Barça DNA:
“We speak about this DNA, but within the DNA we have to keep winning and be competitive.”
“The club aspires to win it all. If you don’t have the desire to win in your DNA, you can’t play here.”
“The Barça DNA stands for a different way of understanding football: understanding the game, using both feet, positioning yourself well, thinking faster than others do and already knowing what to do with the ball before receiving it.”
“This is usually the case with younger, shorter players, who face more difficulties, understand the game in a different way, play with two touches and already know what to do when they get the ball. And I insist that in the end, they also have to be winners.”
On the future of players with Barça DNA in the first team:
“I can assure you that we have players that fit this profile and can play for the first team, even with these circumstances. But we have to be loyal, believe in these players and give them a chance, I am convinced that their level is high enough.”
“You just have to take a bet on these players, Pep Guardiola already showed that if you give them confidence, they can play and win with the first team.”
On Álex Collado:
“We are working with him. He is a kid who has already made his debut in a previous season. I said to him that we have to work hard to make him a first team player. I’m sure the first team boss (Ronald Koeman) has his eye on him. For me, he’s ready for a place.”
On Ronald Araújo:
“Araújo is a kid who was eager to learn. In the youth, he had problems with the ball at his feet, but we did a great job with him. Now, he is an important part of the first team.”
On Riqui Puig:
“Riqui Puig has to earn more minutes, in the end, it’s the coach who wants to win. When he was training under me, he worked hard to fulfil his dream of joining the first team. He is young, but he is made to play for Barça.”
On Lionel Messi:
“I don’t know if Messi will stay, but I hope he does. I can’t imagine a Barça without him, he has been here for his whole career, and he has earned the right to decide what he wants to do, but hopefully, he’ll finish his career with us.”
On coaching the first team in the future:
“Being the coach of Barça’s first team is very complicated. I work to be prepared in case the club will need me one day. Just like we train players, my obligation is to be trained and prepared in case it’s ever needed.”
