Yuste, 63, who took over as acting president when Joan Laporta stepped down to contest the March elections in which the latter won a landslide, spoke to Barcelona's official media channels in a wide-ranging interview that covered the club's institutional recovery, the new Spotify Camp Nou, the balance between sporting ambition and financial responsibility, and his personal experience of the past five years.
He was unsparing in his description of what they found on arrival.
"We were not aware of how we would find the club. We had to be very rigorous to bring it back to life. The situation was very difficult, there was no project of continuity — Barça was dead. With good sense, effort and dedication, thanks also to the good work of the executives, that very difficult moment has become a present full of joy. Today, Barça also has a project for the future."
On what he considers the defining decision of the cycle, Yuste pointed not to a single signing or moment but to the systematic work of restoring order to an out-of-control wage structure.
"The most difficult, and at the same time the wisest, thing we have done is finding the balance between the sporting and financial areas. When we arrived, the sporting area was completely out of control, with player costs totally excessive. Putting everything back in order and reducing the wage bill has been extremely difficult. I want to thank everyone who made it possible, especially our sporting director, Deco, who has played a hugely important role."
The numbers he offered to contextualise the achievement were striking.
"This season we invested €30 million to build a champion Barça side, finishing 14 points clear of second place, while other clubs have invested hundreds and hundreds of millions. That has been possible thanks to the determination of President Laporta and the board, and also thanks to La Masía, which is the heart of our institution."
On the new Spotify Camp Nou, whose construction has required sustained patience from the club's 150,000 members, Yuste was expansive.
"My grandparents told me they left Les Corts because Kubala had made that stadium too small. Then came Johan Cruyff and other great players. Now we are fulfilling the dream of a new Spotify Camp Nou. When it is finished we will be 105,000 souls supporting the team and helping to win more trophies. It will also generate income and drive the economy of the club. I want to thank the members for the patience they have had, and continue to have, conscious of the magnitude of the project."
On the challenge of managing ambition without financial recklessness, Yuste was direct about the guardrails in place.
"That is especially difficult. When you win, everything runs smoothly. When things go badly, you have to keep a cool head because you can make mistakes by overreaching. You have to be very careful."
He added a commitment that will resonate with a fanbase scarred by the financial chaos of the Leo Messi years.
"While we are here, we will not make any decision that puts Barça at risk."
Yuste hands over to Laporta on July 1.