“I know what I have to improve”

How are you?

Good, happy.

Happy but not playing much lately?

Yes, eventually everyone wants to play, but now it’s not my turn. I go to Lezama happy every day to train, with enthusiasm. I can’t complain about being at Athletic Club.

Do you expect to get more minutes at this point in the season?

In the end everyone is fighting to play. I train every day to make the coach difficult, fight to play as a starter; but now I don’t get to participate much. That gives me more reason to fight more and see if the coach gives me a chance.

The last chance was given against Valencia three days ago in San Mamés and the truth is that it was not a good game.

I am self-critical. Obviously I made mistakes and I didn’t play for two months, but that’s no excuse either. I am trying to improve my mistake. Yes, it’s true that I also did very well against Valencia. There are better games, worse… I started very well the first three games I played and one day I wasn’t very good. Waiting for the next opportunity to return it.

His big problem, they say, is that he doesn’t defend well. Do you share that view?

I don’t care what they say outside the club. What matters to me is what the coach thinks. I know what I have to improve on. Obviously I have a more offensive side. I’m good offensively and at the back I need to improve one point. I am working on it and I think I will improve it.

Would you rather play in a different system, with three centre-backs and two wing-backs for example?

I played with the same system. In five I was comfortable and in four it was the same. Yes, it’s true that more teams are playing with four and I have to adapt to that. Athletic has a specific way of playing, with a very high defense, and it is also difficult to adapt. It’s a bit too much for me and I’ll take it.

The day of his debut in San Mamés, against Real Madrid, went very well.

We are losing and the team is moving up and they are behind. I did very well in those 20 minutes and against Osasuna and Betis I was good.

Is it true that Aitor Larrazabal once told you that you are better off playing as a winger?

Not better, but more likely to reach the elite as we all know left backs are few and far between. I adapted well from day one.

And where did you most like to play until then?

I’ve always wanted to play indoors, especially indoors. In fact, the coach brought me inside because I provide solutions and I like it and also on the sidelines. No matter where they put me.

How do you assess your loans to Mirandés and Eibar now that you’re at Athletic?

Very good. Barring injury, they both excelled in sports. I was in two great locker rooms, with very nice people. Good colleagues, some are now in the First Division. I recommend to all the kids from Lezama who have the opportunity to get a loan to be brave because it matures you a lot in football and personally.

In the first of them, Miranda, he was with Joseba Etxeberria as coach.

Since February. Very good of him. I met him at Bilbao Athletic. He always had a lot of faith in me and that was appreciated on the field. He brings out the best version of me.

In Mirandés he teamed up with Iñigo Vicente, another one who is said not to defend himself.

A brilliant player with many contributions in goals and assists. I’m glad he’s doing well now in Racing.

How did you handle the first chance to leave home?

Just an hour from Gallarta (his hometown). They forced us to live there, but very well. Then (laughing) I had a hard time going home with my parents because I lived alone in Miranda.

And from the fight to maintain Mirandés’ category to promotion at Eibar.

Eibar had a great season when I was available. At Christmas we came in as leaders and when I got injured we went on and won five or six games in a row. After I got injured came the famous streak of ten games without a win.

Did what we experienced last year weigh on the team’s mood when it looked like Eibar’s promotion was over and ultimately failed to achieve it?

In recent months, the ghosts of last year are still noticeable, but that year the team was good. Getting up to the First Division was a great opportunity for many players and I experienced what it was like to be eliminated from the play offs.

They say, if you weren’t injured, Eibar would be in the First Team.

In hindsight, it’s always easy to give an opinion. They will always miss those who don’t have and have colleagues who are very good. Shame it’s missing the last stretch, which was the best.

Did you have a really bad time with that injury?

It’s a stick. I never had any discomfort, any serious injury and suddenly… I was alone in the beginning. The recovery was very good and so far. I have recovered well. He goes to Lezama every day and works outside. The professionals here (at Athletic) have helped me a lot.

At Eibar he also teamed up with Peru Nolaskoain, another who knows how difficult loans and injuries can be.

He also had problems and wounds, he had to go out and he turned it around because he was home. I hope he will be given an opportunity here because he has a lot to contribute, he trained very well and is a good player. In Athletic there is great competition, but here we all add up and your moment can always come.

We used to talk about Etxebe, but at Eibar he has Garitano. A more amarrategi coach, right?

He helped me a lot and I learned a lot from him. Defensively, he seems to be a good coach and then, no matter what they say, he always has the idea of ​​attacking, of being brave, of being brave. I am very grateful for Eibar’s year.

Football, it is clear, works a lot with clichés.

completely. Many labels, many topics. The best thing is to ignore it and move on.

And how is Valverde compared to Etxebe and Garitano?

He was colder, more reserved. He never gets lost, he always thinks things through. I appreciate that too.

Are you putting a lot of effort into it?

Yes, it bothers me, but since I became clear: if they bother you it is for a reason. Because they see the potential or something.