Dani Cárdenas (Terrassa, 25 years old) is Levante’s starting goalkeeper. After going through the quarries of Barça and Espanyol, he has established himself in the goal of the Granota team, which is fighting relentlessly to avoid relegation. A team that has been improving in recent days and, don’t forget, is giving its best against Barça, Madrid and Atlético. Tomorrow, the azulgrana visit their fiefdom and Cárdenas is ready to stop them.
Is this Barça scary?
It is true that they have a pretty good dynamic and we already know what Barça is. Of course, the good thing is that facing this team or the one from the first round is more or less the same. The game base is the same, although now they have more gunpowder.
Does one player worry you more than another?
If Messi were there I would tell you that he is, but all the ones out there are very good. I know some of them well. With Adama I have coincided at Barça and with Ferran I have a very good relationship because we both lived in Valencia. I was in the Barça Alevines and Adama was not so strong, on the contrary, he was finite and now he seems different. He is a very good boy.
You played in the culé youth academy.
They called me very small for the fry while I was at the Natació Terrassa. It was a very nice experience, but I couldn’t fully enjoy it due to a couple of injuries. I experienced that situation of being in such a demanding place and not playing. I left and the truth is that I was able to come back but they called me when I already had a pre-agreement with Espanyol, where I went from Cadet A to Juvenile. But Espanyol came before, they said yes before and I thought it was better to keep the word given. It wasn’t a ‘I don’t want’ Barça but a ‘sorry’ because he was already committed.
How did it go at Espanyol?
It was a short stay but it was very good, people were very helpful, but I didn’t play what I wanted. I was in Juvenil A and Levante called me.
And he is already a starter in the First Division.
My agent thought that Levante was the right place for me and, after a couple of trial weeks, they stayed with me. Paco López gave me the opportunity in Primera. He was always very clear with me and he knew how to take me. Even after playing well at Wanda he told me: “You’ve done very well but the starter is Aitor”. And it is good that the technician is clear with you.
He has ousted Aitor, who always performed at a good level.
We all know it. Just being able to compete for the position with him is already a source of pride. You grow up seeing the starting goalkeeper of the first team as your reference, you don’t even consider replacing him but in the end he arrives and that is a great pride. Two years ago I couldn’t imagine being his competition.
How do you see the game against Barça?
Barça is in a great level of form but in this case it’s more about what we do than what they do. We are fighting for survival and it has to be noticed. There are eight finals for us that remain.
Levante is down but has also had bad luck.
It’s a host of things, the general instability of the club, things from the coach, from the squad… Now it’s half up to us to save ourselves.
Levante made it difficult for the greats last season.
Yes, and the good thing is that we are almost the same ones who did what we are now like this. You have to wake up.
Are they optimistic for salvation?
I see the team and the fans very attached to the cause, what remains is life or death. It is time to face this end of the section with great enthusiasm and enthusiasm. And with great intensity. That will not be missing against Barça.
Last year they tied Barça 3-3 after losing 0-2 and 2-3. Do morals have food for them?
I don’t think they think about that but let no one doubt it, we approach each game as if it were the last.
Do you think there is a League for Barça?
We have too much to look at the top, now we are penultimate and it’s about going up.
It was said that you had Madrid sympathies. It’s true?
It is not like that and I would like to explain it. Everything came out after a match at the Wanda. They called me from a radio and asked me who I wanted to win the League, which was between Atlético, Madrid and Barça. I didn’t want to ‘get wet’ and in the end I didn’t say that I was from Madrid, but that if Madrid won I would be happy for people in my family and my environment who are. My family is Andalusian, from Córdoba, but lives in Terrassa. I only said that if I have to give joy to my family and friends, where there are more meringues than other teams, then Madrid win. And it led to sticks being hit everywhere, especially on the nets, because it was put in my mouth that I was a merengue and I wanted Madrid to win.
What do you think of Ter Stegen?
He is one of the best in the world, he has great footwork and placement that very few have. is a reference
¿Y de Courtois?
He is a totally different goalkeeper to Ter Stegen but his resume speaks for itself. It is very complicated what he is doing this year, that the rivals come to you alone and you act so well is commendable.
How does Dani Cárdenas define himself?
Brave, cheerful and eager to continue growing. Temperamental and always with the same state of mind, so that the bad and the good affect me little.
Do you admire any Barça player?
To Busquets, for having a past at Terrassa but not only for that. He has been in the elite for many years in a very complicated position and always performs well.
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