Laporta takes swipe at Madrid's guard of honour snub: 'You need respect when you lose'

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has expressed his surprise at Real Madrid’s refusal to give Barcelona a guard of honour following their Supercopa de España victory, suggesting their rivals were simply too gutted after the comprehensive defeat.

Madrid’s Guard of Honour Snub

Speaking to RAC1 after Barcelona’s convincing win in Riyadh, Laporta didn’t hold back when discussing Madrid’s post-match conduct:

“I’m surprised they didn’t give us the guard of honour. You need to be generous and respectful even when you lose, but I understand they must have been having a right mare. They must have been absolutely gutted and that’s why they reacted that way.”

Dominant Display

Laporta was understandably chuffed with Barcelona’s performance against their bitter rivals:

• Highlighted Barça’s control throughout the match
• Admitted some concern about Madrid’s counter-attacking threat
• Claimed Barcelona “were far superior” and could have won by a larger margin

Praise for Flick

The Barcelona president was full of praise for manager Hansi Flick, quickly putting to bed any speculation about the German’s future:

“Hansi Flick has a contract and will be with us for many more seasons. We have a great coach with a contract that was made from the heart, and he has a very strong connection with the city.”

Player Updates

Laporta also provided several key updates on Barcelona players:

• Revealed Ronald Araujo’s emotional return to captaincy was planned by Flick
• Confirmed Joao Cancelo will rejoin the squad on Monday or Tuesday
• Addressed Ter Stegen’s situation, stating: “If he’s happy, in principle he’s with us”

Election Timing

When asked about the timing of Barcelona’s presidential elections, Laporta suggested March might be better for sporting planning purposes, though June could also work once the season’s commitments are completed.