Álvaro Morata's complaint still resonates in the concentration of the Spanish team. The threats in networks, the insults to his wife and children in Seville from his own hobby. The forward receives all the support of his 'second family' in days of reflection on the need to mark a limit. “Behind there is a lot of suffering,” says Mikel Oyarzabal.
The importance of the round of 16 of Euro 2020, against Croatia on Monday in Copenhagen, commands. Football debates, criticism, whistles from a part of the fans, memes and even disrespect should be parked.
Oyarzabal reflects on this in an interview in which he shows his humility. When he talks about the great campaign of the Royal Society, he remembers that it was not at the height he wanted. That demand that is imposed is key to the success of a striker who Luis Enrique Martínez trusts and whose moment in the Eurocup is about to come.
What is your first memory of the national team?
The Eurocopa with the goal of Fernando Torres and the World Cup with the goal of Iniesta were marked. I was very young when it happened and luckily I had the opportunity to go to the 2006 World Cup.
It was a generation that made triumph a habit, broke down walls
They got everyone a little used to making them see that everything was easier than it really is. They made it seem like reaching a final and winning titles should always be done. For the fans and those of us who are here, they spoiled us to success but hopefully it can be repeated and it is better to get spoiled than not to succeed.
Now being the protagonist, does the responsibility weigh when playing a round of 16 or quarter-finals?
No, it does not weigh, it makes you realize while being inside how difficult it was what that generation achieved. When you are out you have another perspective, but when you are inside and you see that you have to fight it, you realize that any selection can give you a scare. With the responsibility that we are where we are but it is what we like. We all like to play these types of games and live these moments.
In Spain you go from one extreme to another and you go from being favorites to resuscitating old ghosts of eighths.
Every player who is a professional likes to play this type of match in qualifying rounds of large competitions. That's where you really have to give the callus. They are the games you like to play the most. We are trained for it. That they don't see us as a favorite, we don't care. I have confidence in the group, it is very good footballingly speaking and humanly, the good vibes and what we are experiencing inside is reflected on the field, although the results in the group have not been the best I think we have done a very good phase.
Is the lack of a reference like Cristiano in Portugal or Mbappé in France, going to the appointment with such a young group, is that what lowers favoritism?
We do not have a name that is so big in the press or abroad, but we do have players who have been in football for many years. Koke is the League champion, Azpi the Champions League, Busi and Jordi have been with the national team for a long time. We have very important players who have achieved great things but they are not fashionable names. Soccerically speaking those names and many more we can contribute many things and make it difficult for anyone.
The importance of Busquets was seen in his return
He's a captain for a reason, he's been in the games he's been here, so many seasons playing for Barcelona. We know the type of player he is and it is a luxury that he is with us. Hopefully it will be for a long time. Both he and whoever plays in that position is going to perform great. It is not a matter of one or the other, it is a group that is what characterizes this team. Play who plays is going to give the callus.
His tears at the end of the game show how bad he has been
Many times you only see the beautiful side of football and behind it there is a lot of suffering. We are privileged to be here and do what we like, but that suffering happens alone and then when things go well for you, the team gets qualification after a great game, it is normal to get rid of the tension with tears.
Of that generation, Silva was the one who most caught his attention
When he was very young, he was at Eibar and he came to play there one year. I have a very good memory. When my father saw him, he said that he had something different, that he would be there for a year and would be temporary. Once he had seen his entire career that was how it was. Now I am lucky to share a dressing room with him at La Real. It's a privilege. I want to continue sharing moments and learning from him.
In his case the passion for a club seems to be forever
Since I arrived I always had the opportunity to play, I felt important and loved by the fans. I have not had any complaints. They welcomed me with open arms. Anyone who passes through Zubieta, whether they reach the first team or not, is very grateful to what Real is and to the people who work in the shadows so that we can arrive well as footballers but also as people.
A season like the current one rewards everything
Living a year like this at La Real is something very nice. It is true that personally there have been moments in which I have not been well, I am the first to recognize it, but the important thing is the group and we have won a title after a long time, we return to Europe finishing fifth. It has been very positive.
That demand that is imposed leads him to the selection
Every professional footballer always wants more and knows when he does things right or wrong. No one needs to tell you anything. I want to continue growing, to do things even better.
He will be looking forward to having more minutes in the Eurocup
Yes, but this is a group competition, of 24. Each game there are eight who do not play and it can be up to anyone. I am prepared for whatever I get, to help by playing at the beginning, with two minutes or without playing, to help from the outside, this is everyone's thing and we are in the same position. You have to help in training so that they are more competitive, so that everyone grows and if there is an opportunity to take advantage of it.
Did you always feel the confidence of Luis Enrique?
The truth is that I am grateful, I have not finished the season in the best way but the coach has always trusted me. He has brought me, he has given me minutes and I am grateful to him. I'm going to keep fighting to keep coming here.
ANDIn the minutes you have had the opportunity to score, is it a challenge to do so in a final phase?
It is a challenge to help the team, if more goals can be scored, better but what I want is for the team to win and move on. There will be days when you have to score a goal and others run for five minutes to help the team. I am willing to do what I get.
What changed from the first two games to the last?
That the ball went in. You see the first, you create thirteen chances, in the second more than ten and between the two you score a single goal. The beauty of football is that many times without deserving it you win and deserving it you don't. We manage to take advantage of the occasions.
How do you see Morata?
I see him well, as is logical a forward wants to score goals and has missed clear chances but we know how this works and we will support him at all times. He is a very important player for us, who will give us joy in what remains. We fully trust him, there will be people who do not do it and criticize but like everything in life you cannot grace everyone. He is calm because he has the confidence of all of us. That is what matters.
Were you surprised that the fans in the middle of the European Championship punished the failure with whistles?
In the end, people have their way of showing their discontent and it was at that moment. It is not necessary to give importance because the great majority has been supporting us in Seville. We have felt sheltered and it has given us an extra. There are people who criticize him and do not support him, but it should not be given more importance.
He was emotionally touched by the threats and insults.
Many times we are exposed to anything, nowadays on social networks anyone can tell you anything without anything happening to them and as you come up with answering the blame goes to you. People are free to give their opinion on football but without exceeding limits that are often exceeded. We live it and we go through it many times because we understand that it is part of this, but there is a moment when you say enough and you cannot continue with it.
Have they had to give you a lot of support?
We know how it works, we know Álvaro, he knows that he always has our support, we help him and I am sure that he will give a lot to talk about in the remainder of the Eurocup and he will give us a lot of joy.
Croatia arrives. In a second the rival changed us and the path was complicated on the side of the frame.
A: If you want to end up winning the Eurocup you have to beat everyone, sooner or later you will have to face big rivals. It is clear that we have had a great rival, we know that it will not be easy but we have full confidence in what we do.
It will be the first game against an opponent who will also want the ball
And it may be that it favors us. There have been games in the group that the rivals have locked behind and it is more difficult to attack against ten than in the open field. Croatia is a great team, they like to play, they will want to take the ball from us but I have full confidence in ourselves. We will do things very well
Will he run out of summer to go to the Olympics?
I hope so, I am in the age range, I have the illusion of going if the coach has me. First things first, everyone would change my situation by not having a summer.
If there is a penalty or final shootout, does Mikel ask for the ball?
If I am in the field and people trust me, I have confidence. If there is another teammate like Gerard or Álvaro who have confidence, they want to throw it away and he is ahead, full confidence on my part. Penalties do not worry us, it is something that is also trained and we have had some bad luck. If I have to shoot, welcome and if not, we are a very united group that trusts the one next door. EFE