“Leaving Athletic makes you hard”

How about Leganés?

Very good. Leganés is a club that is well set up and life is good in Madrid, although better than anywhere else at home.

A draw against Elche at home is enough for them to go up no matter what happens at Eibar!

The one that has it easier is us because Oviedo also plays it in Eibar.

Joseba Etxeberria’s Eibar…

I went with him to Tenerife when I left Lezama. Too bad it didn’t last long there.

He left Lezama, although he debuted as a lion.

In Israel. On the same day of Laporte, Eric Morán, Jonxa and Alvaro Peña.

Then everything got complicated for him with knee injuries.

Bit bitchy because it was time to make that jump from the reserve team to Athletic. It made me a better player and a better person. It took me on a different path and I’m proud of it.

Why better people?

You’re debuting young, you’re a little clueless and you have too many birds in your head. Being injured makes you a little bit happier because you realize that you have to be professional, take care of yourself, work… They don’t give you all this.

Is it true that Madrid want him?

They became interested in me the moment I broke my cross. Kuko (Ziganda), who became the coach of Bilbao Athletic, found out about it, we talked and he told me that he believed I had to stay, that I was a project in the first team. I am from Athletic and I want to play there all my life. I have no regrets.

Galarreta returned several years later.

Our careers may be similar. During the repair he suffered three serious knee injuries and I suffered two. Now he is a more complete player. Outside Lezama it’s cold and that makes you stiff. I am not at all the same player there, now I am more complete.

Guruzeta, whom he met in Sabadell, also returned.

It was a complicated year for us because of the COVID issue and we were down. It was good for him to spend an annoying year away from home, it helped him become who he is today.

And from Sabadell to Portugal.

Paco Ayestaran del Tondela called me, and it was a cool experience. That League surprised me in terms of level and players.

And from there to Leganés. They say it’s a very family club.

They sold it to a US investment group, but they are very close to the player. More humble than Athletic, but we’re like a family. Obvious.

They need a point to climb.

We’ve been in charge for 30 days, but what the Second has is that you relax a bit and the back eats you. We need one more point to get promoted or for Eibar not to win.

No more knee pain?

Nope. The last one at Bilbao Athletic taught me to be more professional, to give importance to prevention, before and after training, to take better care of myself.

Is Undabarrena ready to play in the First Division?

Now I am a more mature player and the Second Division level is quite high. I have confidence in myself to jump.

If Leganés go up, are they still there?

I signed for two years and I’m finishing now. When the League is over we will sit down and talk.

Some cubs from his farm are still lions.

I’ve been around so long that I’ve played a few fifths. From Bustinza, Aketxe and all this to Unai Simón. From my fifth there is now Yeray, Williams, Lekue… Kuko is very effective as a trainer and prepares you for jumping. His values ​​are typically Athletic.

How did you experience the Cup final and Gabarra’s triumphant walk?

I suffered watching the game with the physios in Huesca. I am very happy with the title because I have friends in the team who made history and still don’t know what they achieved for the people there.

What does Athletic look like from the outside?

From what they tell me, the values ​​and what is asked of the Athletic player are the same as before.

Mirandés or Amorebieta?

I want Amore to stay. A humble club that continues its struggles will be a joy for all Biscayan football.

Will you be playing in the First Division next year?

Let’s see what happens against Elche.

Galarreta, I insist, returned to Athletic years later. And you?

Concentrated on beating Elche. He’s a cannon. Now it’s not enough to just be good on the ball, now you have to be complete back and forth. Whatever has to happen, it will happen.