Roger Grimau for Vassilis Spanoulis on Sportish: “It’s not just a legend, it’s the legend”

Roger Grimau has always been a loyal Barcelona soldier. He wore the team shirt from 2003 to 2011, winning titles and is now in a different position with the team as youth team coach.

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The once dynamic guard was in Patras with Barcelona, ​​winning 4th place in the Adidas Next Generation Tournament with the Catalans and losing to Vassilis Spanoulis’ team in the small final. However, despite his frustration, he did not refuse to speak to him Sportish for the presence of the Catalans in the tournament, but also the experience of having Spanoulis as a coach as an opponent who idolizes the legend of European basketball.

What are your first thoughts on the Adidas Next Generation Tournament?

“It’s a great event. I saw it on TV last year and am happy to be a part of it. I was upset with the result and 4th place but it was a great experience for me and the kids in the team. ”

What do you think about the level of this tournament?

“The level is very high. “Physically, it’s on a higher level than we’re used to in Spain and it was good that we faced teams from Europe with different playing styles.”

How challenging is it for you to coach players from so many different countries?

“It’s not that big of a challenge. Basketball is global. It’s easy. The kids in Barcelona have lived in Macia since they were kids, so we don’t have a problem.”

How was the transition from player to coach for you?

“It was easy for me because I love basketball very much. That’s how I stay close to the sport. In the beginning I definitely missed basketball, but every year I miss it less. I love coaching, watching games and watching players develop, that is our goal as a team.

Of course we want to win everywhere. But the main goal is to prepare the players for the men’s team. We’re happy because we have 4-5 players with prospects.”

How important do you think it is for the young players of the team to see Barcelona honor their history and place former players like you, Victor Sada and others in such positions?

“I think that’s a question you should ask the players (laughs). Look, players like me and Sada have played at Barcelona for many years and we know what the club means. I think it’s good for the kids because we know what the club needs in terms of mentality and more. We want to teach them on many levels”.

You played against Vassilis Spanoulis as a player and now as a coach. How was this experience?

“It was a great honor to share the word with him. I’m very happy about that, because you don’t often see such a legend. He did a great job with his team, especially considering he only had 3 training sessions with the kids.”

As a former player-turned-coach, do you have any advice for him?

“I don’t think she needs it. He has a lot of experience and is a great personality. “If he decides to become a coach, if he likes it, then he will do it.”

Sada told me in an interview that he remembered being exhausted in a game he had to score after the match, even though he only played 20 minutes against Spanoulis’ 40. Do you remember your own stories?

“Oh man. When Victor didn’t tag him, I tagged him (laughs). It was terribly difficult. It’s a legend. Basically, it’s not just a legend, it was the legend. It was a great honor for us to have him as player and now as a coach to face.