El Rubí is waiting for Athletic. Only one week remains until the lions play their first Cup tie on the Can Rosés artificial grass. The city council of this town in Barcelona,intensive This is the first time Rubí has played a tie of this nature and the first time it will face a First Division. The Catalan team is tenth in the Elite League, the sixth category of Spanish football. He has seven points out of a possible 18 and in the previous round he left Mallorca’s Rotler Molinar in the gutter in the penalty shootout. Their coach Jordi Peris believes that Athletic “has a 70% chance of passing and his team has a 30% chance.”
How was the match against Athletic?
Amazing. In our heads we have three teams, which are Sevilla, Betis and Athletic Club. In the end he held the desired rival.
Are there many expectations in the city?
Many people are contacting us interested in tickets. It is still a historic match for us.
What would you say is the main strength of your team? And the defect that must be corrected?
Our main virtue is the human factor. We have a great locker room, all the players get along and are going in the same direction. This is a clean and healthy locker room, which can be seen on the field of play. It adds a lot to us. They are very self-sacrificing and supportive of footballers, making them a very strong and competitive team. I would also say that we adapt very well to different match contexts. If it is a small field and it is a war meeting, then we will go to war. That we have a lot to defend, because we have a lot to defend and run. We have a very versatile team. Our weak point is the specific mistakes we make.
Could playing on artificial grass be a problem for Athletic?
Any change in this size is a factor to consider. It may be difficult for them to get into the game because they are not used to it. The ground is harder, the ball bounces differently, it expands more or less… These are things to consider.
Your team has not lost at home since you took over.
Yes, this is my second season. Last year we did something historic, winning all 15 games we played at home. I just want to break records at this club. This year we haven’t lost at home. Here we are, enjoying that historical record and making sure it lasts as long as possible. If Athletic win this, we’ll be proud of them.
What is the key to this great streak at home?
We are a very different team in our field, we dare to do more things, we dominate games more. Rivals have a different predisposition. They seem less aggressive and attack. They prefer to defend. The reality of coming onto the field of a team that hasn’t lost in a long time weighs on opposing players.
What do you like most about this Athletic?
I saw him last Sunday at Montjuïc. I liked Ernesto’s approach with such high pressure, forcing Barça to make losses to generate counterattacks and set pieces. It was a very solid and cohesive team and above all very selfless, they never stopped running the whole game. Ernesto hit the key. He makes Athletic a great team.
They already have Valverde there, both at Barça and at Espanyol.
It was a pleasure to meet someone who has been elite for so many years and gained so much from the teams he was on. It was a pleasure to talk to him for ten minutes, ask him three or four ideas that I had. I’ll even try to get him an invitation to take me to see a training session. You will never know. I see it with admiration.
I will interpret that he will ask you for advice to improve his coaching career.
Yes, I would ask him for advice especially in locker room management situations. In the end, he had to manage people with greater social recognition than I did. I want to know how he handles personal situations, how he treats players. I’m 30 years old, I’m just starting to step into the amateur world. He always saves some of any advice and experience. For me, it was an achievement to be able to share a game with him. I know he will take good care of us.
Do you think the starting team will show up?
Let’s see how effective it is. He had two casualties in the Barça field, along with the ones he already had. He definitely has to play players who usually start. I think we will see everyone in action, although it is also true that he will take the opportunity to give minutes to Raúl García or Iker (Muniain), who are not playing in the League.
Today (yesterday) Julen Agirrezabala was injured with a cut on his eyelid. In theory he is the goalkeeper of the Cup as was the case last season.
Another injury… oh my. If Julen doesn’t come, the Bilbao Athletic player will play or Unai Simón will play. Then the chances of scoring a goal will be less. Unai is amazing at Montjuïc. The MVP could go to either of the two goalkeepers. Ter Stegen is also very good.
What do you fear most about Athletic?
If they catch us in the open field and we are not protected, we are sentenced. The high pressure they did on Sunday was very good, well organized and very sacrificed. When they steal, they are clear, they climb like real animals. We certainly cannot control them as we wish, simply because of the difference in physical potential. We will try to limit those situations. They are also a very strong set piece team.
How can you tell if a tie will hold?
Athletic come out as clear favourites. He is a clear candidate to reach the final and fight for the title, but the reality of playing in a smaller, artificial grass stadium, with fewer people, with players who have minutes… Opportunities are opening up for us. I will tell you that Athletic have a 70% chance of passing and we have a 30% chance of passing. The Cup format is set up to scare some big players. I don’t want us to kill Athletic and send Ernesto away because of us. If anything, don’t fire him.
But you want it to happen…
I want to go as far as I can. I don’t know when we will enjoy the Cup again as a team, especially me as a coach. Who would have told me that at 30 years old I would compete in a national competition and play against a historic club. From here, everything that comes may not be enough for me.
Coaching school classes are given
The Catalan coach lives from football
Jordi Peris is only 30 years old, but he has been in many banks. The Cerdanyola coach coached Sabadell, Granollers and Cardedeu before taking charge of Rubí. “I started training when I was 14, as time goes by you become a trainer. I have done everything, as a second coach, as a physical trainer, as a coordinator, as a director…”, he says in Mundo Deportivo. Peris teaches classes at the Catalunya coaching school and dedicates himself to football professionally after proper training. He graduated with a university degree in Sports Sciences, in addition to several master’s degrees, one as a Physical Education teacher and several in football, one of them in Las Rozas, and he has all the coaching titles. “I’m always worried about expanding knowledge, I try to retrain myself with readings, videos, conferences so as not to become obsolete,” he said.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
