By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Xavi Pascual is currently considering his options to advance his coaching career, following five years as the play-caller of Zenit, including the last four away from the EuroLeague.
“These were very good years, but I felt it was time to move on, that this part of my career was already over,” he told Mundo Deportivo in an interview published on Saturday, describing his spell with the team based in Saint Petersburg, “I gave everything I could, everything I had inside me.”
A former EuroLeague champion, during a lengthy stint with FC Barcelona, Pascual went on to coach Panathinaikos and Zenit in Europe’s premier club continental competition.
“I had several,” he opened up about offers from EuroLeague teams during his stint with Zenit, “I try to be a responsible and honest person, and when I commit to someone, I try not to break that commitment. I have missed out on very interesting opportunities to coach in the Euroleague with top teams, but my commitment prevented me from even considering them.”
“Without a doubt, that is the plan, to return to the Euroleague,” he continued with his updated approach as a free agent, “I do not consider any other possibility at this point. I am waiting for something that truly excites me.”
“For sure, I will not start the season as a coach of any EuroLeague team,” he added, “I am willing to sit out one year, if necessary. But if something excites me along the way, I will take it.”
“When Barca wants something, they get it”
In addition, the experienced Spanish tactician also addressed rumors about a return to Barca, following his exit in 2016.
“Many things have been said, and many of them are fabrications,” he noted, “People talk a lot. Nothing has happened with Barca because Barca never really had the interest to bring me here. There was a lot of talk, but it did not happen. When Barca wants something, they get it.”
“Nobody wanted to die with me”
The interview also went into the end of his previous spell with the Catalonia giant.
“It is very simple, when the club stops protecting the coach, the coach is dead,” Pascual explained.
“Thinking back, there a things that I would not allow to happen to me again, if I were at the club again,” he added, “To make it clear, to now allow relative leaks behind closed doors, a lot of inappropriate acts.”
“Not at all,” he also talked about the lack of club support toward him, “The last two years, zero. Especially the last year. Since February, people constantly refused to talk to me. Nobody wanted to die with me.”