Sergi Mora: “Respect for everyone, fear for no one”

Sergi Mora He didn’t think about the changes that Girona FC is going through now. Neither the Champions League nor, of course, being the coach of the Youth League after the dream phase the club is experiencing. After going through coordination, the base of the entity ‘Gironina’ and the subsidiary, Mora returned to Juvenil A, where he had the best experience as a football coach, escaping to the next stage of Europe and still undefeated in tournament against teams like PSG, Liverpool or PSV. This is what he said in an exclusive interview for Mundo Deportivo.

For those who don’t know him… Who is Sergi Mora?

I am a soccer coach who started in his hometown -Sant Andreu de Llavaneres- at the age of 14 and then moved to Vilassar de Mar, where I trained Cadet B, merged it with the company ‘Tutti Futbol’ as general coordinator in a school in Maresme.

What is your career as a coach and at Girona FC?

Omar Harrak -former goalkeeper coach of Girona FC, now with the Moroccan National Team- called me, and I started at Alevín C of Girona. After that I was a coordinator, I combined it as coach of Cadet A, I went to Youth A, the subsidiary and now, again, I have returned to Youth A. I have been at home for eight years.

If you are talking about Youth A… Are you familiar with the Youth League?

Of course. It was a unique opportunity, one of the best experiences of my life. We experienced six absolutely exciting matches in the group stage, with a very high level. I came from studying Liverpool, I tell you all. Furthermore, we had a great competition and I am very happy with the team.

What does this experience mean to you as a coach?

The work remains the same because the types of reports are the same. What affects the most is the time because on Sunday you play and on Tuesday morning you can play another game. In that day and a half we have to coordinate everything with the analyst and the assistant coach and we have to look at the games they played in the competition. What I notice the most is the rhythm and, in terms of analysis, your eyes are more aware because you see amazing things.

Do you notice the difference between these groups?

Yes, and I noticed a difference compared to Spanish football. The level is very high but the teams are more arrogant and you realize that football here is very demanding, of a very high level. Analyzing Liverpool players I don’t understand why they can’t win more games, and then I realize that at a competitive level and mentality they don’t work hard depending on what actions.

And for your players? How did they experience it?

They don’t need motivation and you can see it in the way they come. They will approach it with great enthusiasm, with a different vibe and sensation, but then you have to manage the locker room, especially with the players who don’t get called up. It’s a dream for them, it’s harder for me to motivate them on the weekend.

PSG, Arsenal, Milan and other European greats have been left out for the next stage. You’re in! Did you expect this?

I started looking at the rivals and believed we would go through, but it was the final goal and now we realize that by scoring another goal on the last day against Liverpool we can get into the top six. It was a success, we didn’t lose a game and the team worked hard to reach the qualification and now we face the round of 32 with the utmost enthusiasm, seeing how far we can go. We already have an analyst working and he’s doing great work that a lot of people don’t see.

They got Olympiacos.

We had one of the best rivals we could have, in fact he was the last Youth League champion. They have won three out of four matches in their phase and we know it will be a very complicated match at home, as is the case with all Greek rivals. In Greece they are the team that dominates, with 38 goals for and 3 matches. It is a big challenge, but we hope to overcome the stage.

Do you like or prefer another rival?

We sincerely want to avoid the best rivals and to make the movement comfortable, as well as to make the grass condition good.

Do you notice changes in the gameplay of the two competitions?

Emotionally, it has been very good for us, because we are in the League for three days, adding one point to nine, and Mallorca, Barça and Espanyol – the first three classified – will come to us. From there we beat PSG and that gave us a boost that allowed us to compete very well against Mallorca and beat Espanyol at home. On a physical level it is also noticeable, but I highly appreciate the work of physiotherapists and doctors because, despite everything, we have few injuries.

What are the goals for the competition from now on?

We see ourselves as able to give it our all and contribute our 100%. If they remove us, let it hold our heads high and show a clear identity of the game. We have respect for all teams, but we are not afraid of anyone and I believe we can compete with anyone.

What can you get from this competition?

Among the things I experienced during the trip, I will never forget it. Breathing in the atmosphere and seeing people who have been here for years and have traveled have left unforgettable moments. Furthermore, after playing we were able to visit the first team in the big stadiums in Europe. We work until three in the morning measuring the last details waiting for a call and those moments are unforgettable.

Beyond Europe, they are seventh in the League How is the team?

The team is growing and improving. I am happy with the evolution of the team because we have added many times over time, even doubling them between the start and end of the first lap. This is a very new team and correcting small details helps us improve results. We have a beautiful and amazing group, the atmosphere is great and everyone cares about each other.

What are the goals?

We will face the second round with the desire to go further and with the challenge to produce better numbers to finish as high as possible. I don’t look at the classification because the first is the individual improvement of each player, that’s the main objective. If we made 21 points, now I want to make 30, but there are things that are difficult to control.

Is individual player improvement one of the main keys?

The first thing they will tell you as coach of Girona is that the player must improve, this is the A of our alphabet. The second thing they make clear, along with being a good person, is being a collective team that plays in a certain way so that it can be transferred to the first team. The club has made great strides in that regard.

Do you see any of your players having options to play in the first team?

We already have young players like Selvi who have made their debut in the first team and we have others who have been dynamic in the first team. That means they are doing things well and the club trusts them, but the players must understand that, at the moment, playing for Girona’s first team is very expensive.

Would you like to recommend any particular player to Míchel?

Alexander Andreev is a goalkeeper with great qualities, ‘Gibi’ -Gilbert Jordana- and Guillem Badía give great results as full-backs in the defensive line, Aimar and Coro -Aimar García and Arnau Coromina- give many levels inside… I don’t know, we’ve got great players and I don’t want to get involved, but they’re all doing really well.

Taking advantage of these dates… Do you have a request from the Three Wise Men?

My requests have been transferred. Now Eric Vázquez is back from Real Madrid, but we have a healthy connection with sports management and we are in line with what we are looking for.

How would you rate the moment of the club?

I can see that the club is changing a lot and going in a very good direction. Since my arrival, I have noticed that changes are taking place, the areas of procedure, physical preparation and examination have started. I have seen everything created, now at the stage of maximum professionalization. All the changes are very positive, I wouldn’t say that the club will play in the Champions League when I arrive.

What are your goals as a coach and where do you see yourself in the future?

I am an ambitious person, with dreams. Every coach wants to coach in the First Division one day, but I am at a stage in my life where one realizes that one must take care of each day and, with patience and persistence, I must continue to correct the my mistakes as a coach because I’m still in the evolutionary phase. I try to be a better coach every day.