“This is my best season”

Álex Remiro (Cascante, 1995) sees the future with ambition and in txuri urdin. In less than four years, he has become a regular in the Real goal, amassing 160 games and a whopping 68 clean sheets. He considers that he is in his best season, which he wants to button up the team in the Champions League positions.

We started at the end, that victory against Elche with the decisive participation of the goalkeeper, how did it go at the break?

I’m happy to leave a clean sheet again, which we haven’t been able to do in a few games, but above all to end this streak with a sweet taste.

Did they say agur the bad streak?

I think. The streak is either successful in places or not. We haven’t been too bad or too different from the good moments of the season.

Are they worried?

Nope. I never saw people worried and not in person. We have a very strong squad, we have a lot of arguments and in that sense I am calm. Watching them practice every day is a lot of reason to believe in the team.

How did you find Imanol?

Ima is that he gets so involved that… When he loses, he is in a bad mood, like everyone else. Waiting for the next one to come. Each of us suffers in some way. I spent the first night badly and then it was not so difficult for me to find motivation to go to training the next day.

How much sleep do you get after games against Roma?

Not much. More than anything else for the sensations. And that we have it. Before I slept well, but after, I didn’t. I thought about it a lot, especially that 2-0.

What moment did he remember?

I do not know. We are not that far from them. They have generated very little for us. Ima said in the press conference. I have already said that I can mark how many winners there are in duels and there in Rome there are very few winners. And noticed it.

On the way back, there was a moment…

Our plan was for them to produce zero because we knew there would be three or four egg whites. So it is. But it did not turn out to be expensive. To learn and move on. Another lesson.

Did they believe? We all talked, in the press, about the dream of Budapest

Everything influences. You often inspire what we think and create. It’s great, but when it doesn’t come out of the head, it’s even more disappointing.

Now the League is all that’s left, what’s your strategy?

With 12 games to go, we have a great goal on our hands and we have to fight for it. You have to earn. You don’t deserve to want, you have to be able to at this time. And the same thing in reverse: it’s not worth the power, you have to like it.

I don’t lack desire, do they have potential?

Yes. La Real is fourth and has arguments to finish fourth and even fight to be third. Another thing is where it ends. But the arguments, staff, games and football we showed that we have. You have to work to bring back the best sensations in every way.

Do you ever see yourself playing in the Champions League with Real?

No, I didn’t visualize him. I give importance to all the games I play at Real. In the Champions League, the scenario will be different, but I feel privileged to be where I am in every game. We know what we represent.

How is this season feeling?

I feel fine. I improved compared to last year. I am happy with my performance today. I have many ambitions to follow. I have a goalkeeper coach who helps me a lot and makes me better every day. And the companions too. I’m in the right place, the right place for any player to develop if they put everything in their place. And I try to do it every day. Fun and excited with these 12 games. In desire.

The numbers say that in the League he scored 24 goals in 26 games, with 10 clean sheets; and, in total, 29 goals in 38 games, with 18 clean sheets. What does this tell you?

That last year had 22 clean sheets and my goal was to match and surpass it. They are numbers and they are there. But the important thing is that the team wins. I would have bought 2-1 against Cádiz more than 0-0 then, even if they didn’t score a goal. Primera occasions make you the world. When you’re right and the two or three you have, or seven like the Madrid day, you take them out, you’re happy. The truth is that a goalkeeper is defined by the number of tight situations he solves, but I try not to get obsessed with that. The goalkeeper, stop, yes, but remember everything else.

Was that game against Madrid important to you?

Yes, fun in terms of sensations. Everything is for learning. That day, I felt that if I had been stoned nine times, I would have stopped nine times. I’m fine, comfortable. There are days when you feel more intuitive, more than a flower. And you will see it.

Is this your best Real game yet?

As for the acting, it might be the most notable; but what I want most is to win and not us. Also, I prefer to assess for seasons, not for a single day.

And how would you rate this one, which is fourth?

It’s still the best of the four, but let’s see how it ends. Personally, I think I have improved my performance compared to last year so far. I want to continue in that line. Happy and very happy.

This course you played 38 games out of 39 games, are you surprised?

Nope. I work for that. I go out every day to practice that and in fact I go out every day, whether it’s post-game or pre-game. And I do it to play, not to think. We all need to practice this. And then the coach decided. You have to give him that, give him that gift so he can open it and decide who to put in. That should be the attitude. And that suits Andoni (Zubiaurre) and me. It’s not easy to play too much. We all have stripes. I am, in that sense, calm. I devoted myself to training. My way of focusing on my work is during the week. I am very involved in training. I try to get to the day of the game satisfied with what I’ve done during the week, because I know I’m giving it my all. And since then I feel good and ready to play.

Have you been hurt by any criticism?

Yes, because sometimes you write, not disrespectfully because they are not insults, but you hit the mark. And not just me, but colleagues like Rico, Carlos Fernández or Aritz. We understand where we are and I think we are all in the same boat, it better be that way, that’s why I let it be known sometime. Better to say it than to keep it inside, to make a ball and get worse.

How do you fit them in?

I’ve already told you how I approach it. Criticism motivates me and a critique from you served as motivation for a month. It seems important to me how to deal with it. I have two seconds of pique and I say: I shit in the milk, what they have put me!, but still there are kids who are very affected by this and you have to know how to deal with it too.

Regarding Remiro, no one doubts about next summer

Man, if after four years and 160 games, there’s any doubt… He sure has haters, but I don’t care.

He won’t go there, but there’s no doubt he’ll stay at Real, right?

I didn’t expect anything, it’s a little strange, but now we don’t know. It will be really strange if I don’t continue next year.

And you think they will sign another goalkeeper?

Ask Olabe that at the end of the season, and I’ll ask him the same.

Isn’t the renewal process a bit long?

Nope. I’m very focused on the season. It’s not a tug of war, it’s a tug of war and we’ll close it when the season is over. I want and I want to be at Real and I want and I want to continue. I want to succeed at Real, stay here, as I am, I am on the right path. Easy to get along with. There is a very good project, a great team. All of us who have renewed, are renewing or will renew have more than shown the level we can give, which is high. That creates a terrible illusion within us. You watch the person next to you grow and develop. That’s why, when it’s your turn to renew, you won’t think twice. I will not mention the names, but it is visible.

Do you have options to go to another team, other proposals?

Not allowed. He called people to ask questions, but mostly to find out when he was renewing. No other.

Can he become a ‘one club man’ from Primera to Real?

I didn’t say that. I say that in today’s football anything can happen and that it would be very random for me to sign for another team this summer