Barcelona president optimistic ahead of Spanish Super Cup final: ‘I am convinced that we will have opportunities to win’

The second El Clasico of the season is set to kick off later today and it will be for a trophy this time around.

With Barcelona and Real Madrid both making the final of the Spanish Super Cup, they will face off in Jeddah for the first piece of silverware this season – one that can potentially shape their campaign moving forward.

Both sides desperately need the title for various reasons, and what that provides is a guarantee of a great game ahead with high tensions and elite quality football.

Laporta’s pre-game thoughts

Barcelona president Joan Laporta spoke openly about the strained relations between the two clubs last night ahead of the Supercup final. Later in the day, he also gave his honest thoughts on the upcoming game via Mundo Deportivo.

He began by insisting that he felt the team were ready to win their first title of the season, saying,

“A great desire to win this title, it is the first title we can win this season. We have reached the final and we are in good shape.”

“I believe that all ‘Catalans’ want is to start this year 2026 with a title, and it is the Spanish Super Cup,” he added.

Speaking on how winning the Supercup has usually boded well for the team, Laporta said,

“Whenever we have won the Spanish Super Cup, in general, we have won more titles afterward.”

“I believe it sets the course for the season, and therefore tomorrow’s match is an important match for both teams that will play the final. We have a very strong mentality, they [the team] trained with great intensity,” he added.

The president also provided an update on the hard work being put in behind the scenes to ensure that Barcelona are prepared for the big game.

“Two days ago the team trained; they did a very, very strong training – we have a coach with a very high mentality who does not allow anyone to lose focus, and I am convinced that we will have opportunities to win this final.”

Laporta was then asked if the Clasico defeat in October would serve as the motivation to win tomorrow, to which he admitted there were several other motivating factors as well.

“The spirit is to win. The motivation is to win, beyond the fact that there is always competitiveness of the highest level.”

“What exists is the utmost enthusiasm to win this title, to win tomorrow’s match, to play well, and to bring joy to the culés. That’s what exists,” he added.

Admitting that the defeat in the last Clasico and the tension with which it ended will indeed play a role, Laporta said,

“Beyond that, there are circumstances that happen between players. They are professionals and know that there are things.”

“Well, sometimes they happen, and perhaps they are addressed in another way,” he added, referring to the clash between Dani Carvajal and Lamine Yamal after the last Clasico.

Laporta feels personal rivalries will not play a major role. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

He then asked all fans to hope for a Barcelona win irrespective of the motivation.

“But in any case, what we wish is for Barcelona to win tomorrow, and we hope to celebrate it as we always celebrate titles, with joy, while we enjoy it, and we offer this title to the culés. That’s what we wish for tomorrow.”

Entering the game on a run of nine straight wins and Lamine Yamal back, there is a sense that Barcelona are the favourites. Laporta, however, refused to accept that tag for the team.

“Look, in a final there are no ‘favorites.’ In a final, anything can happen. I can give you plenty of examples, both in football and in basketball recently.”

“I want to tell you that there are no favorites in a final, both teams will use their cards and strengths to win,” he added.

Speaking on what Barcelona do have working in their favour, the president said,

“I think we have a very cohesive team, and that Barcelona’s team spirit surpasses our opponents. But well, they also have the ability to win, and they’ve proven that in the semi-final, it became very clear.”

The president is confident Barcelona can repeat last year’s success. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

The manager then spoke about the massive 5-0 win that the team registered in the semifinal, saying,

“We played a big match against Athletic Bilbao, they started very well in the first 5 minutes, but after that it was a ‘football clinic’ by Barcelona.”

“We arrive strong for the final, we arrive convinced that if we play with the same intensity we’ll have a great chance of winning and they played a semi-final where, well, Atlético Madrid deserved it more,” he added, taking a dig at Real Madrid.

“What I want to say with this is that, regardless of how the two teams reached the final, there are no favorites. In a final, there are never favourites,” he concluded on the topic.

Finally, he took a dig at Florentino Perez for not attending the Spanish Federation’s event, saying,

“Well, we always act with the utmost respect and the utmost friendliness. I don’t know if their president came or not.”

“He didn’t attend the Federation’s event, but clearly, he is free to do whatever he wants,” he added.

“From this standpoint, at Barcelona, what we have is the utmost respect for our rivals and their representatives, and I believe we have always acted in institutional harmony, and that is our way,” he concluded.