Sarunas Jasikevicius (45 years old) prepares the start of his second season at the helm of the Barcelona basketball section, a course in which he will seek the assault on the great Barça dream: the club’s third Euroleague. In his first course at the head of the section, Saras revitalized Barça, which he won the Cup and League finals against Real Madrid. A double that could be glorious: the Euroleague got away in the last minutes of the final against Efes. The team also did not win a Super Cup at the start in which they can take revenge next week, in Tenerife.
Before playing the Catalan League this weekend, the Lithuanian coach spoke on the program You will say of RAC1 on the current situation of Barça, and one of the topics that could not be missing in the conversation is Pau Gasol and his future. The center of Sant Boi won the League with Barça and achieved his great goal after his return, to be at the Tokyo Games. He has not yet expressed himself on what he is going to do, if he decides to retire or if he plays one more year at Barça. Jasikevicius assured that it is not something that worries him right now: “I am focused on working with what I have now, I am not thinking about Pau Gasol. If that option appears later, we will have to assess it… I can’t say yes to Pau Gasol, I don’t pay his payroll. If the possibility of signing him arises, it will be necessary to see it with the club, the player and the staff to see if it suits us all ”.
Regarding the configuration of his squad, Jasikevicius referred to the registration policy and the departure of a classic from the dressing room like Adam Hanga, who has changed Barça for Real Madrid: “The thirteen chips we have are enough. We cannot ask for more. We have sought more balance and rejuvenate the team a bit. We knew it would be a summer of tough decisions. This team will be different from last season. In the base position we lose physical but we gain in creation. Bolmaro took a step forward and adapted to directing but he is not a pure point guard. We have consolidated the point guard and forward positions. If no other option had been possible, I was prepared for Sergi Martínez to be our forward all season. But they gave us the green light, and Nigel Hayes gives us a lot of depth, he can contribute many things. Hanga has not continued due to budget cuts but also due to sports issues. With Claver’s injury, we started last season without a clear forward and without a clear second baseman. Now we have sought that balance ”.
Jasikevicius, of course, has also made it clear that he is no stranger to the situation at Barça and the convulsion that Leo Messi’s goodbye caused: “It was a shock for me. As a member of Barça and a great football fan, it will be very strange for me to see him with another shirt. It is very sad, all the members feel this way. I have a good relationship with President Laporta, I feel his support and I am very happy to be here ”.
