Xavi Pascual accepts the challenge of rebuilding Barça

BarcelonaIn 2008, he quietly took the reins at Barça. Now he returns in style. Xavi Pascual has accepted the challenge of rebuilding a Barça project that has been in decline for years. Despite his doubts about the club's financial constraints, the coach will once again sit on the Barça bench. The Catalan will join the team on Monday, November 17, after the team has played this Friday and Sunday at the Palau Blaugrana against Virtus Bologna and Baskonia, and will have a contract until June 2028.

Pending the signing, Barça and Pascual have arrived. As in his previous stint, the coach will be accompanied by assistant coach Iñigo Zorzano, who will join the coaching staff. Òscar Orellana, who debuted with a victory on Wednesday at Bayern Munich's courtHe will continue as interim coach for the two matches this week.

The coach, who has been talking with Joan Carles Navarro in recent days, He had shown his willingness to return to the clubBut he demanded a long-term contract and decision-making power when it came to building the roster. His priority, however, was to return to the EuroLeague. Aware that he had other offers on the table, Joan Laporta managed to convince Pascual to revive the team. Josep Cubells, the director responsible for the section, did not participate directly in the negotiations, since the coach's agent is David Carro. Thomas Heurtel's agentAll of this, after the dismissal of the current coach, Joan PeñarroyaA decision that was made following the Blaugrana's defeat on Sunday at Bàsquet Girona.

"Xavi Pascual can work miracles in the short term, but projects need time," said Àlex Abrines, former Barça captain, in an interview.Everything Costs(Catalonia Radio).

Pascual arrived at Barça in the 2004-05 season as coach of the EBA League team and coordinator of the youth teams, but in 2005-06 he became the assistant coach of Barça's first team, working under Dusko Ivanovic. He spent eight seasons with the club as head coach of the first team, from 2008 to 2016, winning four league titles, three Copa del Rey trophies, four Spanish Super Cups, seven Catalan League titles, and in 2010, a EuroLeague title, his greatest achievement. His departure coincided with that of Joan Creus, then sporting director. Furthermore, the team reached nine consecutive league finals, five of them in the finals. final four of EuroLeague titles, six Copa del Rey titles, and seven consecutive Supercopa finals.

After leaving Barça, Pascual coached Panathinaikos in Greece and Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia, a team that was withdrawn from the EuroLeague due to the war.

Active market

Barça is finalizing the signing of Trae Bell-Haynes, a point guard currently playing for Casademont Zaragoza, and is considering whether to add a big man now or in January. The club is also looking to offload Miles Norris. The American power forward only played 4.47 minutes in Munich, where he failed to score.