“I have a lot of stuff inside that I haven’t taken out yet”

Beñat Prados has been one of the great revelations of last season. The Navarrese returned from his loan at Mirandés as a more developed footballer, prepared for the elite. He proved it in spades. He made his debut as a lion on August 19, 2023 at El Sadar to play a total of 33 games, 26 in the League and 7 in the Cup In this season, he suffered a minor muscle injury in Roma which prevented him from playing Sevilla and AZ Alkmaar, but he returned before the break to Montilivi. He faced during his confirmation in Athletic and in the First Division.

I thought the injury was now forgotten.

Yes, I don’t know if it’s been two weeks. On the day of Rome I noticed it was a little stuffy. Everything went well and I was full.

He has been called up against Girona.

We don’t know if he will be called, we doubt it. Feeling good, I went on the roster and the coach decided to let me play ten minutes.

He has only two games left.

Right, but they were two painful games, especially the one against AZ. I’m very happy, first game in Europe in San Mamés, last Thursday night, very cool…

There are still at least three European matches left in San Mamés.

That’s why we don’t want to risk anything, there’s a calendar with a lot of games. The world does not end with the loss of two. I want to play again, when I watch games from the stands I don’t like it a bit, I feel bad.

His object is to return to Athletic and kiss the saint.

I’m back from Miranda after having a wonderful and very demanding year. He came with great enthusiasm, knowing that he had taken a step forward, that he had improved in many aspects, especially without the ball. I thought I could make a place for myself. I had to convince the coach, we still weren’t sure if it would count or not. I had a good preseason, I convinced the coach, I stayed, at first I didn’t participate much but gradually I improved, paving the way and in Granada I had the opportunity to enter the eleven. Things went well for me and I slowly got into it.

Did you expect that confidence and continuity that Valverde gave you?

I always believe in myself, I know I have the ability to do it, but it is something very difficult because of the players that Athletic have. The position is well filled. I always say that when a player isn’t playing the only thing he doesn’t have to think about is that ‘the coach didn’t let me in, that I’m not playing and I deserve it.’ You have to keep working because opportunities always come. When you get ten minutes, you have to make the most of them for the next fifteen.

He was seen as a better footballer after his time at Miranda.

When you’re young and you’re from the lower categories of Athletic you’re super superior, especially with the ball and you don’t realize the speed that exists in the Second and First Divisions. What it brings is experience. Playing in the Second Division helped me a lot to know what I’m about, especially without the ball it helped me do more defensive work. Athletic also need that to help the back line. I became more of a player. It’s also true that during my time at Bilbao Athletic my pace was lower.

What does Mirandés have for young Athletic players who always give a boost to their careers, as is the case with you or Vivian, for example?

I don’t know what it is about it, but it’s a good place for a player who wants to improve, who is focused on playing football. It is a small city. Maybe you don’t have the things that a bigger city has, but you focus on playing. Since there were many young people, we got together. We are building a very competitive team, you grow up, want to compete and you focus on football, which is the important thing. They trust you, they give you minutes, which is what a footballer needs when he wants to test himself.

Is the change from Second to First noticeable?

I always say that from Second to First the game doesn’t change much, but they will ask you to play the ball faster, think in less time, the tenth of a second giving the ball to your teammate . an advantage or its loss. You will notice a lot, especially the rhythm. You will also see that there are many quality and better players.

What is your goal in your second season in the first team?

My goal is to continue growing. I have a lot of room for improvement, I can improve a lot in many facets, I can show more with the ball, I have many things inside that I haven’t brought out yet. I think I can get them little by little with confidence and with the help of my colleagues, who also make me improve. I have to take a step forward, I’m slowly accepting it, I think I’m going to improve a lot.

They often say that the second season is more difficult than the first.

Yes, I always think about it. At first you are the novelty, almost everything you do stands out, gets more attention because you are the novelty, but I always say that when you are bad you are not bad and when you are good you are not good. either. It is a matter of continuity, of improvement little by little. Certainly getting minutes and training with good players will show itself and I will definitely improve.

Now if you ask the fans the two starters in the center half they will say Galarreta and Prados. Do you feel that, starting with Athletic?

I don’t think so either. We have a very high level of people, anyone who comes out is great. Yes, it’s true that I feel important within the team and that gives me the confidence to try different things and have confidence in myself, but whoever plays does it well. Now we see it with Jaure (Jauregizar), who is incredible. This is great for us, we see that to play we have to perform at a high level. That will make you stronger and when you go out to play, give it your all because you know that there are people who are very good. We all need to push. That competitiveness is huge.

Right now, you are in the eleven for League minutes 24-25

As I said earlier, I feel important, I feel like I contribute to the team. This year there are many games, the minutes will be distributed, no one will play everything because it is very difficult. The important thing is to be ready when the coach needs it.

He has also played as a right back. Do you see yourself in that position?

In the lower categories I always play as a center-half, I am more comfortable but the full-back position helps me in other facets, I can also adapt and do well. At Mirandés I played as a right-back center back with Joseba (Etxeberria). He has never played as a winger.

He scored his first goal as a lion against Valencia. What does it feel like at a time like this and also in San Mamés?

I didn’t believe it. It’s something we all dream of. That San Mamés shout a goal from you is something incredible, you don’t have the same experience as if you scored it. It was a moment I will never forget.

What was your best moment as a lion?

The day we won the Cup, we took the pressure off, and my first year was more than that. In my first year, I didn’t expect to achieve so many things like the Cup or get into Europe after six years. Celebrating it with the whole team and taking the barge out in front of the whole of Bilbao will never be forgotten in my life and it will be marked by me forever. The relatively veteran players were a bit upset (laughs) that the first-timers got it after trying so many times, but that’s what football is all about. I’m also very happy for them because I noticed that they have extra pressure playing in the finals and losing to them. I’m happy for people like Muni, who had to leave Athletic with a good title like the Cup, Raúl García…

In June it was renewed until 2031. How was that decision reached?

The club has a policy of keeping players. It’s very easy, we just need to finalize the details. I wanted to stay here, I want to finish my career here.

In football today, these types of long contracts do not usually happen, although in Athletic it is becoming more common.

Athletic has a philosophy that makes it go for that. They need to keep the players they believe will help them in the years to come. They do it that way. It is something that involves the player and shows that there is an ambitious project for the club. That they keep players with many talents like Oihan (Sancet), Nico (Williams), Vivi (Vivian) makes you decide in the sense that there is a very good project, that Athletic wants to be bigger.

The fact that Valverde continues will also be important in making the decision to renew.

Yes, when you renew you’re not just looking at the contract, you’re looking at something else. Ernesto followed one of them. This is something that helps. Valverde gave me a lot of confidence, he is the perfect coach for Athletic at the moment. It is a joy that it continues.