Garagarza: “It’s a yacht but we have to put oars because we have to row a lot”

Fran Garagarza He was presented this Friday as Espanyol’s new sports director, an addition that became official on Monday. The former from Eibar, serious, enthusiastic and strong in his speech and form, he signed for four years. He is excited and excited about the challenge of leading the field of parakeet sports and is convinced to achieve the only goal, promotion.. Garagarza focuses on a simile pTo describe your idea of ​​what to do in the face of difficult times ahead. “It’s a yacht but we have to put oars because we have to row a lot,” he warned about what awaits the Spaniard who just spent a year in hell.

With the lack of movement of entries and the fear of exiting the first team, the new sports ‘capo’ assures “calm Well, we have 25 players on the squad, what we have is a high level. Let’s think about what we already have and not what might come.” He was clear when asked if he was confident of having the tools to return to the elite: “I am convinced of the promotion but with oars”, he sentenced.

– Presentation of Garagarza

“I will start by thanking Espanyol for their interest because for me it is a challenge and an illusion that Espanyol thought of me. It is not easy to work in a high level team, despite being in the Second Division now . This is a challenge that I am facing with enthusiasm, passion and dedication. Words of thanks to Lopetegui, who tells me that Spanish is a very good option. We have been working for several weeks and I am excited because I arrived in Spanish in my dreams are unexpected and I will pass this strength and illusion to the whole perica family. There is a simile that I hold and like: we are yachts but we have to row because we will have. to row even if it is a yacht. As long as we don’t have that clear, complicated. Family to set up and all the help”

Have you talked to Darder? This is the entertainment concern

“I haven’t spoken to him yet, the team starts on Wednesday and I want to have a personal face-to-face meeting with everyone. I want to read the eyes of the players and see what they want, see and empathize. It is not appropriate to call them when they are here on Wednesday and I will start talking to each one and look them in the eye, talk to them as a club about the importance they have to achieve the goal”.

– Are you missing a lot of paddles with what this team has or do you have to go out and find them?

“It’s a big family and a lot of people and it’s very new for me. It’s a step and I have to adapt to all these dimensions. I’m doing a personal audit to get to know people and see if what can we do. That’s the first step for me. I’m not neglecting the agents or the market situation, no. For me it’s important to see and know, respect those who experienced and suffered in the Spanish relegation. In suffering that, send encouragement and listen to them. That’s my personal work, apart from the calls to the agents… I won’t do it until I talk to the players, out of respect”

– What model do you want to do in Spanish?

“With little, Eibar has done a lot. In Spain, we have a lot and we have a lot to do. That is one of the reasons for my audit, to win the people and that step is the first to do the second. . Here we have a lot of resources but also a lot to do”

– How do you convince rowers to stay?

“They have a contract and the club and the fans must be calm about that. Everyone is registered and from there, well covered. Second, I have to talk and analyze with the coach, case by case, valuation by valuation. There are players . with a very high level and I need to talk to them and get to know them. I haven’t even talked to Edu Expósito (who he signed for Eibar in his time); I want to talk live”.

– Have you talked to Luis García? sensations?

“I didn’t know him as a coach. When the time came, we talked and it was a very good surprise because of how he transmitted his passion and feeling to me and how we can work together, the respect shown and sent him. to me. He has a very clear style of play; I’m very happy with Luis”.

Are you convinced by the promotion?

“Otherwise I wouldn’t be here, I would tell him to think of something else. Espanyol called me because he was in the Second Division, otherwise he wouldn’t have called me. The situation is difficult, but we have to work. this day- day to be promoted. I want to be close to other places because at some point also have to get an oar, they have to help us.”

– How do you convince the fans that it will continue? Are there changes in your department?

“I don’t have time to talk to the fans, I value learning first. Tomorrow I will meet with all the technicians of the team and I will see the aspects of the work model. There are good and professional people and I know what I want from my department and see how and with whom we carry it out”

– What can you contribute from your experience at Eibar and how do you deal with the pressure of promotion?

“I want to receive feedback from the people who work here and from there the audit; I’m working on it. I see passion, pride, feeling… I’m going to go a lot for passion and then of course, Kailangang the ball came in. If we hold people’s level, if we remove that wound and try to heal, that’s the way”

– Do you have anything to do with the Joselu issue?

“Above all, I know. Despite the fact that I am doing this audit, I spoke with Real Madrid. I will not talk about the options. We have sent the situation to them to see what options what there is at a sporting level. We have a picture of what could happen if we could… Let’s see. Unfortunately, Espanyol are in the Second Division. Many of them have offers from important First Division teams. It’s not easy. And we know what we want or what suits us best. There are 25 players in the squad. You have to think about what we already have, which is at a high level. Situations can arise, of course , but we’re not in a situation to be worried about what we’re going to sign.”

– You will have a little time to make the template

“It’s not an excuse, if things don’t work out, it won’t be because I wasn’t there. Time is what and if you suspend me, there will be no excuses. I’m quite calm and gradually. , no the market is still starting; step by step”.

What role will the quarry play in your sports management model?

“I talked to Mikel Azparren and David García. I come from working for many years in the youth academy. I understand the responsibility of being there and giving yourself. Historically, the grade from the youth academy is outstanding . We need to mark a strategic plan and do not doubt that it should have boys from the youth academy in the first team, but must continue to have a lot of time. The club allocates money to the youth academy, what they give must be returned. This is the source of the club’s energy. I don’t believe in a model other than proximity from the quarry”

Can you define more long-term aspects of your model?

“The strategic plan is fundamental, so is the model. Knowing the peculiarities of the club, its size… We have to bring grassroots football closer to professional football. What happens to those who don’t succeed. Some of those are maybe even a parakeet. We must leave a legacy below regardless of what happens to the first team. Sustainability and stability. It’s a chain that won’t stop, even if you’re in the Second Division”

WhatAarón will arrive, Vilhena will return from Salernitana and will Lozano and Melamed be renewed?

“I asked about Aarón, but he will go to Genoa. They promoted him. Vilhena will return because Salernitana has not made a step, Espanyol paid him a lot of money during his time. Lozano gave a high level, I will meet with his team shortly agent. Right now my priority, we will meet with his agent. With Melamed, the same thing. They are important players for Luis García. From there we have to build. There should be parakeet players in the first team”.

Will you choose the Women’s coaches and the subsidiary?

“I spoke to Dolors, he is responsible, I just have to say who it is. The decision is theirs. About the subsidiary is something we should discuss on Sunday morning with grassroots football. I listen to them, see what plan and what idea they have. I have things to talk about what I understand in the profile. They should be two in one. Synergies, work, connection…”

– Do you have any doubt that the Spaniard will recover?

“I’m convinced of climbing but with oars, yes”