Grbic: “In goal you have to be the leader”

“Yes. Of course”, he answered briefly, firmly, Ivo Grbic (Split, January 18, 1996), goalkeeper of Atletico Madridthird in the world in Qatar 2022 with the Croatian team, when asked in an interview with EFE for his desire to continue beyond his contract until 2024 at the rojiblanco club, where he speaks passionately, as well as about the goal or the Hajduk Split.

Of the three courses at the Madrid club, one of them owes to LilleHe played 14 games, 12 as a starter, including the last eight of last season, always ready to replace the unquestionable player when the team needed it. Jan Oblak. Like anyone, he wants to “always play”, but says the Slovenian goalkeeper is “unbelievable”.

How did you become a goalkeeper?

“My first idea to be a goalkeeper was when I was three or four years old. My mother told me that I was too hyperactive at home. I always wanted the ball, the ball, the ball, but I never really wanted to run. . It’s normal. With My friends on the street always preferred to play, never in goal, but when I started playing football for a local team in Croatia at the age of five or six, we didn’t have a goalkeeper and I was asked if I can, that’s when it all starts. I’m also a bit taller than the other kids (I’m currently 1.95m). That’s my normal story to start being a goalkeeper.”

“I started at Hajduk Academy when I was seven years old. This is my club. For me, it is the best club in Croatia. Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb. It is a great club, with great support like Atlético. Everything starts with this team. My father is the former president of the club. I started going to the games when I was six or seven years old, as a child and with incredible enthusiasm. This is a huge team . There are two options, basketball and soccer. On the street I always play basketball and football, but when I was six years old, Hajduk called me. I was in his Academy until I was 17. I started playing with the first team , but little, not much, because the first The goalkeeper was Kalinic, a very good goalkeeper, captain of the team. And I waited for my chance.”

International then including Croatia in all lower categories (one meeting with the sub’17, another with the sub’18, six with the sub’19 and four with the sub’21), Ivo Grbic has played ten games with the first team of Hajduk Split, since his debut in 18 years, on April 18, 2015, with a loss against Rijeka (1-2), until the 2017-18 season, when he decided to leave to play for Lokomotiva. He is 22 years old.

“I want to play. I have to change teams. I have been in Lokomotiva for two seasons (playing a total of 74 games), we played in the Cup final and we finished the season second. I showed a good season And then I was bought by Atlético. Lokomotiva is the best Academy in Croatia. Many young players have the opportunity to play at a level in Croatia. I changed for that. Myrto Uzuni, the goalscorer with Granada second last year, and many players who now play in Croatia, in the national team, played there. It was a wonderful experience. And then came the change at Atlético”.

How can a goalkeeper like you assume he knows he won’t play unless there is an injury or mishap to the starting goalkeeper, in this case Jan Oblak?

“I don’t think like that. I’m focused every day, in training and on the weekend in matches. It’s normal, I would like to play forever, but Oblak is a legend here, an incredible person. My friend . Me I’m focused and I only think about training, every day and nothing else. I don’t think much further ahead. In all teams you need two goalkeepers who are always ready, because this is the competition and that’s important, like in other positions in the team, such as forwards, midfielders or defenders. That’s my mentality. I think I’ve shown that when I’ve had the chance.”

How does a goalkeeper adjust to suddenly leaving for a game after a long period of not playing?

“This is our position. The position of the goalkeeper is very different from the players. The goalkeeper can play only one. Many players can play in two or three positions, not all, but they can be changed. When I I’m on the bench, I don’t know how to play. When the first goalkeeper is injured, I can a little bit, but I don’t want to. On the other hand, the players always have a chance, five minutes, three, 20 or 30. For me, this is complicated mentally, but for footballers it’s better. I really like my position. My position as goalkeeper is my life. I enjoy it.”

His eyes sparkle, with great enthusiasm, when he talks about being a goalkeeper…

“A lot of people say that goalkeepers are a bit crazy, but I think it’s not true, because in the position of goalkeeper you learn a lot. It’s a position where you have to have everything: communicate a lot with the team (he never stops doing this when he is training or playing a match to give instructions and encouragement to his teammates) and in defense, and being a leader. Also being a good goalkeeper and now as a player on his feet. And many others. We have games where there is not much work and you always have to focus, wait, be ready, wait for two chances from the other team. And you also have matches with a lot of work . It’s important to always focus, on work, on training. That’s my mentality and my idea”.

What was it like to train and share a team with Oblak, one of the best goalkeepers in the world?

“He’s great. He’s Slovenian, I’m Croatian, we have the same language. We speak a lot. He’s a fantastic goalkeeper. I can learn a lot from him. And it’s important for him to have competition with me, because it is important for the team and for me, that I can learn a lot from him. He is an incredible person and goalkeeper”.

What advice does Oblak give you?

“Many people think he is very old, but he is very young. He is 30 years old. For a goalkeeper that is not much. He has been in the team for nine years now and he explains it to me. Also Savic and my first year (2020-21 ) Vrsaljko. My first year was a bit difficult, because I didn’t play much. I learned Spanish (he speaks clearly) and now it’s easier, because I understand, I can communicate. in team, the coaches and the whole coaching staff. And it’s easier to live here in Spain. I’m very happy here in Spain with everything. It’s a very happy country like mine, Croatia. I like the people, I like Madrid, I like everything. I’m very happy with everything.”

In the last eight days of last season, you played all the games, because of the cervical problem that Oblak suffered. What balance do you strike with the length of the meetings?

good In Elche it was my mistake. We lost because of that mistake, but another thing I think went well. In the first part of the season I played in Bilbao, with Celta, with Leverkusen and it was easier, because I had three, four, five games in the preseason. And now, instead, I had a hiatus of five or six months. It’s a bit complicated, but the friendly match with Besiktas helped me a lot (they played it completely). It was a bit difficult to play after six months, but after that it was fine. I love my team and we are showing very good football.”

Are you one to see successes and mistakes in the days after the games?

“It’s football. All players make mistakes. I don’t like it, we lost the game, but that’s our position. After this mistake, I’ve played a lot of good games. I often talk to the goalkeeping coach (Pablo Vercellone ) ) and it’s important to stay focused every day in training and everything will come”.

What did Simeone send you?

“He is a legend at Atlético. I understand what I have to do, always be ready, train hard and always focus. I know my stuff. He always speaks positively to me and to the players who are not so playing. We have training and that’s our opportunity. When we have that opportunity, we have to help the team. That’s the way.”

What does Atlético mean to your life and your career?

“A lot. I don’t like to talk a lot, because when many players talk about it it’s because they want to have a good connection. I want to show it on the field. Atlético is a special club. Of course. We understand everyone what the club is, the support we have here in Madrid. You go down the street and you see it. I understand what a great club it is. I’m very happy with Atleti. It’s an incredible club. When we play away from home, all over Spain, we have incredible support. I like it a lot that they are always with us. At the beginning of last season we lost in the Champions League, there are many games in the League, but that support is always with us let’s.”

Your contract ends in 2024. Are you considering or thinking about renewing?

“Yes. We talk, we talk, we talk… Let’s see calmly, without haste. I still have a contract for one year. My contract is not a problem here. We are going to see the best situation for everyone. My Nagikipag- the agent talks to people from the club and nothing special.”

Do you want to continue after 2024?

“Sure”.

Ivo Grbic is also an international in the Croatian national team, where he was third in the last World Cup in Qatar 2022. He was called up 24 times, with two games played and one goal against.

How was the World Cup experience?

“We have a team with one leader: Modric. We are a small country, with four million inhabitants, but in the World Cups, in the European Championships, everyone will see the character we have. We play for our country with great enthusiasm. It’s my dream to be with them, like in the first year at Atleti when we won the League. It was an incredible moment. We won bronze in Qatar. It’s a result for my whole life . An unforgettable experience”.

Runners-up in the world in the 2018 World Cup, third in Qatar 2022, finalists in the League of Nations… What does the Croatian team need to jump to become champions?

“I don’t know. I think these results are the best for all the people in Croatia, who are happy, but we, the players and everyone, want more. That’s our character. That’s good. In the future we want to win the Eurocup and the World Cup. It’s not easy. But we have a chance with the new generations. I’m 27 years old. I can play the next two World Cups and the Euro Cup. We have a chance to win. It’s difficult. It’s a huge goal. We live with that dream for the whole country of Croatia and the people”.