Barça power forward Tornike Shengelia (born in Tbilisi in 1991) described current coach Xavi Pascual as “one of the best psychologists” in his career in an interview with EFE, praising the coach’s role in the team’s response, which has won 15 of 18 games since taking over two months ago.

After an away win against Real Madrid in the Endesa League (100-105) and ending a nine-game losing streak in Clasico, Barça return to the Movistar Arena this Friday to face Los Blancos in the Euroleague.

“It’s a very important match for us. Firstly, because we want to continue this good run, secondly because we want to move up in the standings and this match will help us a lot. And thirdly, this is Clasico,” said Shengelier.

Substitutes on the Barcelona bench

“Looking from the outside,

But while Shengelier acknowledged that Pascual “contributed tremendous value as a coach,” he credited the players with helping the team improve. “I don’t know what has changed between us since João (Peñaloya), but something has changed.”

Overall, the power forward is thankful for his former coach, who was fired in November. “Joan helped me a lot when I arrived. We talked a lot and I also offered to help to improve the situation. But in the end, what happened happened. We were in a bad moment and everything was very unpleasant. I will always be grateful to Joan for what she did for me and for the team.”

“When a team changes something important, it’s always difficult at first,” Shengelier said of the poor performance at the start of the course.

“Everything rarely goes well from the start. Sometimes it’s better to take the problem first and think about what you have to do to improve during the season,” he reflects.

Reasons for his contract and adaptation

After being crowned champion and MVP of the Italian league, Shengelia chose to sign for Barça after a two-year hiatus and a dwindling budget, as he “liked the combination of talent and experience very much” in the project offered by Juan Carlos Navarro and Mario Bruno Fernandes.

“Last season, I was watching the team a lot and they were one point away from getting to the Final Four after they got injured, like Lapro, Metu, Vesely, Nunez, and that says a lot about the character of the team,” he recalls.

Moreover, Toco Shengelia claims that FC Barcelona is “a great club and a great world brand” and that “many players dream of being here”.

“From the outside you can see how big this club is, but when you go inside it’s even bigger and I’m honored to be a part of it,” he added.

Adapting to Barcelona was also easy. “I love it. It’s not a very big or small city, but it has everything: the sea, the mountains, the culture. Plus, I have three children and I can do a lot with them and my wife. We have it all here.”

his leadership on the team

With experience in five European leagues and the NBA, Shengelier is known for his competitiveness, leadership ability and work ethic.

“Ever since I was young, I have had the personality of a leader, largely influenced by my father, who was also a basketball player. What I like most is to serve and lead by example. I never follow a leader who is only talkative. Only when you lead by example do you have the right to make demands,” he reflects.

In the Barça team, Shengelier had no problems adapting. “There’s good chemistry in the locker room and everyone is good teammates.”

He already shared a team with the likes of Will Clyburn and Nico Laprovitola, other players who were regular competitors. “I can’t say it’s a completely new dressing room for me, but it always helps,” he summed up.

At Barça, he explains that he tries to contribute “what the team needs” in each match. “I want them to create some inside play to free up guys like KP (Kevin Panter) from always having to score from the outside. They also provide rebounding and, above all, being physical, because that’s something the team has lacked sometimes. I want them to show a more aggressive, more competitive side.”

Calendar without injuries and rest

According to Shengelier, that “fighting team” mentality and “positive attitude” is what allows the team to face a relentless schedule.

“It doesn’t help us mentally to complain about the schedule, but we have to demand changes in the future. We build up the season day by day and try to prepare as much as possible for the next game, both physically and mentally. If you are strong mentally and physically, you don’t feel so tired anymore,” he points out.

In this sense, the Barça power forward emphasizes the reaction that the team had to overcome the injury epidemic. “The team continued to survive when I wasn’t there, when Lapro wasn’t there, when Jan wasn’t there, when Will wasn’t there. That also speaks positively about Xavi. Xavi is a great manager and knows how to work without important pieces. Also about the depth of the team.”

Win the title with Barça

Toco Shengelia believes that by overcoming all these obstacles, the Barça team will be able to aim for every title again.

“Many of us are at a moment where we no longer need to prove anything individually. Everyone knows what we are capable of. What we have to show now is that we can come together as a team to win the title. I think for many players in the team, that is what we are missing,” he summarized.

And despite being under contract until 2028, Shengelia is in a hurry to add to his tally and denies that his first season with the Palau Blaugrana is a transition period.

“When you go to a team like Barça, you don’t do it thinking that you will win the title in three years’ time. You want to win the title now. We are winners, we are competitors and we want to win. The sooner the title, the better, the more titles, the better,” he says.