Andoni Iraola (Usurbil, Guipúzcoa, 39 years old) has lived a different Christmas, with his Rayo in fourth position and locked in his room after testing positive for COVID. The coach answers AS by phone to review a magical 2021, in which he built a promotion and whose work wonders in Primera. The best place in all of Europe seduces locals and strangers, by game and results. Its architect cannot hide the smile, but neither does he lift his feet off the ground. The 2022 calendar is tightening, although he trusts his boys not to drown. Vallecas deserves to keep dreaming. For now, the franjirrojo team will undergo new tests this Monday to return to work on Tuesday and start preparing their assault on the Metropolitan …
-How are you? Concerned about the COVID outbreak?
“I’ve been one of the positives.” I have been isolated and bored in the room. Before it was the turn of other teams and now it has come to us. The last few days there have been no new contacts, so let’s hope the outbreak stays there. Everyone is asymptomatic or has mild symptoms.
– What does a Christmas in Champions taste like?
– Beyond the position, I give importance to the 30 points. We are aware that, even with a good rhythm in the second round, there will be teams like Atlético, Real, Barça, Valencia, Villarreal and Athletic that will surely pass us. No one is going to take those 30 points from us. We are all happy because things have gone well, but we have not achieved anything. The calendar to start 2022 is very ugly. Let’s see how we get out …
—Now that 2021 is coming to an end, what moment would you stay with?
“With the night of Montilivi!” It was one of those games that changed the trajectory of many people, the players and my own. Many of us had no experience in First Division and that has allowed us to enjoy this season.
“Did you ever imagine such a season?”
-No. We came from going up, but of the three who did it, we were the one who cost the most. We were among the favorites to descend, although then we have to play. Despite starting with two defeats (Pizjuán and Anoeta), Rayo showed that it was not that far from being able to compete against those rivals from the upper part. That was good for us to get into the rhythm of the first lap. We are delighted by the points and, above all, by the game and the level we show.
—The style of Rayo is recognizable and makes you fall in love, what are its non-negotiable principles?
—At high rates we are very dangerous, it is good for us to play in the opposite field and that there are many occasions, that things happen in the games. That makes them entertaining and people have a good time.
“We can dream of 40 points, we must not get out of that way”
—Football has evolved from tiqui-taca to verticality …
—There are currents and we tend to imitate what works. At that time, as a result of the successes of Barcelona and the National Team, the trend was different. Now the teams that are dominating in Europe, such as Bayern or Chelsea, are physically strong and their pace of play is high.
—In an article in ‘Coache’s Voice’ you talked about Patrick Vieira and how he marked him. Who has been your biggest inspiration?
—I have had good sources because I have had good coaches. Who I have to thank the most is Valverde. He gave me the opportunity to make my debut for Athletic and, as a coach, I have taken many things from him. He spoke of Vieira because it was the most different from what he had experienced. He came from City with a positional game, an organized attack, which is not something that suits me, but he gives me other arguments to add to the more vertical game, of arriving from the outside, that I had known before.
“When did you know that your future was going to be on the bench?”
“It wasn’t overnight.” The year and a half in New York helped me to train, although at that time I didn’t even think about it, and to be clear that I wanted to try it. Then things got rushed. One adventure led to another… And here we are. It is not good to think too much about the future because opportunities come out suddenly and you have to make decisions in a few hours.
—He has had a meteoric career that has made him the youngest coach in Primera in his debut, does it give you vertigo?
“Things have happened very fast.” I have been lucky enough to reach two clubs and, above all, two changing rooms that have given me a lot, such as Mirandés and Rayo. Everything has been rolled, but difficult moments will come. That will be when it is necessary to measure up and take them forward.
– How does it feel when you are defined as the revelation technician of the revelation team?
“Expectations were probably so low that no one expected to see us upstairs.” With a January as complicated as the one ahead, if we don’t win, no game can change the movie …
—This eleven is the same as last year with just two touches, what reading do you do?
—It is the first time that I am a second season in the same team and practically with the same group. I have noticed an important advantage because the players have internalized the basics of the game and we can go into more detail.
“Valverde made me debut and, as a coach, I have taken his things”
—He’s getting better results in First than in Second and with almost the same players …
—Last year we got stuck in games against rivals who put us in very low blocks and it was difficult for us to attack them. In Primera we don’t find so many of that style because everyone wants to beat you. And in those duels of alternatives we find ourselves more comfortable.
—With 30 points and salvation on track, can you dream?
—You can dream of 40-42 points (laughs). We still do not have them and it better be in March than in May. We don’t have to go off that path because it doesn’t suit us.
—But the illusion of the people comes to them?
—We are delighted that Vallecas is excited and experiencing the atmosphere of each game. The top ten still have to visit us, except for Barça… We are aware that the second round is going to cost us and we have to be prepared. The key is to maintain our level of play. If we do, we will do well. We have had 18 meetings and we cannot say that all 18 have been good, but neither that one has been a complete disaster.
“What have you asked the Kings?” What demarcations are going to be propped up?
“It will depend on the exits.” Qasmi and Sergio Moreno knew that they would have few minutes, but the circumstances did not occur for them to leave in the summer. His idea and that of the club is that they go out. Other players will surely not be happy with their role and will want to find more minutes. Depending on how these situations develop, there will be arrivals.
—Each renovation is celebrated: Óscar Valentín, Álvaro, Isi …
“I’m very happy for the players.” Álvaro had been in the First Division, but for Óscar and Isi it was their debut. They have earned that award with their work and performance.
“Trejo knows how to speed up and slow down the games, seeing him is a joy”
“Trejo should have a life contract.”
—He’s giving us that point of accelerating and slowing down, of managing the game. That is given by experience. And he has also acquired complicity with his colleagues. It is a joy to see him play.
—The fans would also like Iraola to continue.
“I’m glad people think that way.” I know what I have to do and that is to achieve the objective. When we achieve it, there will be time to talk about it …
“Where do you see yourself in the future?”
“It is still too early to ask ourselves such questions.” First you have to do your homework and that’s where we are …
“Wherever he is, always with his tape.”
—(laughs) We don’t win or things turn out well because of that, but it gives me security. I have been doing it for a long time and for now I am not going to change it, although I am aware that it has zero influence on what will happen.
—How do you manage the arrival of a star like Falcao?
—The most important part for the management of a group is put by the group (laughs). This has made things much easier for me, like Radamel, who came and became one of them, without privileges or special treatment. And players who enjoy fewer opportunities complain little and push hard. Although sometimes the award does not reach them, they make the costumes strong and bring us closer to the goal.
—The Tiger has five goals, but important …
“It has been a fundamental help.” He had a great moment when he arrived, without discomfort, training very well … Now he has a couple of muscular injuries that have prevented him from having continuity and we trust that he will regain his level.
“I love the Cup; It has given me a lot, although I never won it “
“What do you like about Vallecas?”
-The environment! The results will help, but the atmosphere of the games is wonderful. A luxury for those of us who live it from within. It gives us a plus for our way of playing. With so much volume of occasions, people help us to make the rival feel harassed. We are knowing how to take advantage of it.
– Have you been surprised by the fans?
“I met her as a visitor and she gives off something that can be seen even from the outside.” Their sense of belonging, that pride of the Rayistas, reaches us and makes us be more involved in what the neighborhood and the Strip are. It is something difficult to achieve for a club and Rayo is extremely lucky to have it.
“Was your childhood idol Laudrup?”
-Yes. Nobody grows up wanting to be a right back (laughs), they park you there. When we were little we all looked at the strikers, the wingers …
—He also played as a midfielder.
“It had more features to play with on the inside than it did on the outside.” From the winger position, in Athletic, I acquired a lot of responsibility at an organizational level and I felt comfortable, although I was conditioned because I was never super fast.
—And he resigned from Euro 2012!
—His pubis was almost hanging… We reached the Europa League and Cup finals, with a great load of matches. He couldn’t compete. In the end I did not have surgery and we did a conservative treatment that went very well.
—He will meet again with Mirandés in the Cup, his fetish tournament.
“I’m really looking forward to going there.” Anduva is going to be very difficult. I love the Cup, it has given me a lot and I have never won it (laughs).