Álvaro Fernández (Arenado, La Rioja, 1998) he is a soccer man. Of those who rest watching it on television to continue improving. In an extensive interview with EFE, he points to Iker Casillas as the “mirror” in which you look at your shared characteristics and point to Marc-André ter Stegen as “the best goalkeeper in the world”
Aware of the opportunities that soccer offers him, he learns English, Italian and French. He assures that he has not caught up with the Japanese, but that going to the Tokyo Olympics is “a dream and a goal.” Kylian Mbappé's former teammate at AS Monaco, points out that it would be “wonderful” for him to play in LaLiga Santander to “have the best”
Question: How did you feel after making your debut in a European Under-21?
Answer: I felt good, if you leave your clean sheet it is always synonymous with work done. But we have seen the images and corrections and there are things to improve, obviously. Especially in terms of the offensive phase, because defensively I had very few, such as helping the team get the ball out. It was not an easy game and we played a good role.
Q: After the victory against Slovenia (0-3), Luis de la Fuente said that there were not so many defensive gifts to be given. Have you insisted on it?
A: It is true that there were a couple of actions in which the ball was stolen from us very close to the area when we had possession and clear passes. Surely it was for relaxation and another team with a higher level that Slovenia makes you pay. It must be taken into account for this Saturday's game against Italy.
Q: Now Italy. It tied in the debut and one of its stars, Sandro Tonali, will not be due to suspension. Does this give more confidence?
A: It will not change our idea because it is one of the great powers of European football and we have the respect for football that we have to have for it. Spain always goes out to win and play the same against any team, yes. If not, we would be wrong. We know that he is a rival of our level and we are psyched that we cannot make any mistakes.
Q: You talk about Spain always going out to win. You are in a club, Huesca, in which this season they are fighting not to be relegated. How is this change tackled?
A: It is very different. At Huesca we are a very humble team and we face real great teams, and here we are the powerful rival of the rest of the teams… but, as I said before, you have to face all matches in the same way. If you come to the national team and want to show more than what you play, or vice versa, relaxed, there you are wrong.
The big difference that I find with my club is the offensive game. Here the style of taking the ball played from behind is very famous and in Huesca we sometimes do it, but if we do not see it very clearly we use direct play more. The first days in the national team it was a bit difficult to adapt to that offensive game, but then when it came to playing I reflected that idea well.
Q: The goalkeeper position has evolved a lot in recent years. Now it seems that if you do not play well with your feet you are not worth it. How do you handle it?
A: I am improving a lot, especially in the last two years; although I still have a lot to improve if I want to get to where I have set my goals. In training I work on it, especially trying to dominate both legs, which is something that makes you stand out in professional football.
I'm reaching a good level, although there are passes that I have to keep watching. Above all, seeing the offensive game well. Goalkeepers who know how to play football well are because they understand the game, they know how to see the offensive phase, find the free man; That makes a difference and that's what I work on.
Q: Who do you look to for improvement?
A: I have always looked at Iker Casillas a lot. Saving the distances, due to my characteristics, I resemble him a bit. A goalkeeper not of great stature, but very fast in goal, very agile, good in one on one… with his feet he ended up improving a lot, just like in the air game, which put a lot of pressure on him. It has always been the mirror to look at because he considered that my style was a bit assimilated to his.
After his retirement, I watch Ter Stegen's games a lot. It seems to me the most complete goalkeeper in the world. The best because it seems to me the most complete. Master all the aspects that are necessary in soccer. I try to watch all their matches. His vision to find the free man, as I mentioned before, is fabulous.
Q: Are you one of those who watches a lot of football?
A: I am a soccer lover. I follow him a lot, especially the Spanish League to see our rivals and study them, I like the Second Division and especially the Premier League. I also see Ligue 1 because of my past at AS Monaco, Serie A because I have a partner there … but I would stay with the Spanish League, I swallow all the games.
And I consider that it is important for a footballer. There are some who have the opinion of not doing it to clear up, I think it's fine and I respect it. But I think it is important to do it for learning.
Q: Taking advantage of the fact that you are a soccer man… I imagine that you will be aware of the debate that Spanish football is in the doldrums due to the results in the Champions League. How do you see it?
A: Those are moments. The Spanish League continues to be the most powerful in the world. The English League is at a stratospheric level too, but in Spain we have the two greatest exponents of world football such as Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. We, as Spaniards, have to give more value to Spanish football. We have that tendency to criticize a lot when things go wrong; We should be more aware of what we have in our country and when it goes wrong, support not criticize.
Q: You like to learn languages… would you like to play in a special league?
A: The one I like the most is the Premier League, but due to my characteristics, especially my height, it is not easy to get there because most teams are looking for practically 1.90m goalkeepers. If not, I like the Italian League a lot and I think I could fit in because of my characteristics.
Regarding languages, I am now with French. I was also with English, Italian … I want to master them because I think it is culture for a footballer. When it comes to integrating well in a foreign team, it is very important. Also, as a culture, being able to talk to anyone in the world is wonderful.
Q: And how does Japanese take it?
R: (laughs). Well, I have Okazaki in Huesca who could teach me a bit, but I haven't caught up with him yet. Going to the Olympics is a dream and also a goal that I set for myself at the beginning of the season. I know it's very complicated because the '97 generation can go and there are two goalkeepers who are with the senior team right now, such as Unai Simón and Robert Sánchez. But I don't lose hope, it happens to continue doing a good job here and doing well in my club. I know what ballots I have, that it will be very complicated, but I work for it.
Q: Speaking of your club, do you trust salvation?
A: It is a difficult situation because last year we lived a dream season rising as champions. We were also psyched that it was going to be a tough season. It is clear that it is not easy, but we are professionals and we have to be aware that this can happen.
We are very close to being able to leave. We are not 10 points away from permanence. That motivates us. We have a coach who psychologically gives us a lot and that is very important. As he tells us, the most important thing is to be out of relegation on the last day, in the last minute. The team is calm, but with the mind set that salvation can happen through the next matches against direct rivals.
Q: You share a dressing room in Huesca with Rafa Mir, who knows what it is to win a European Under-21 and his great season makes him aim for Tokyo 2020. What is he like?
A: He is a great companion. Very smiling, outgoing … and a great player who is taking a step forward this season. He is managing to make a place for himself among so many forwards in Spain. It is not easy to be in a humble team and take the goals that he has. This puts him on the agenda of many clubs. He's going to hit a great club in no time.
Q: He says that the greats look at him, but they also look at you, right?
A: I am happy with the games I have played in the league and the European Under-21 is a showcase, of course. But I am not focusing on next season, we have too much in order to remain in the First Division. Huesca is like my second home, I am very happy, and in summer we will see; I don't think about it.
Q: You know Kylian Mbappé well from his time at AS Monaco. How was your relationship with him?
A: When I arrived, it took him two months to go to PSG. I shared moments with Kylian and I was very surprised because he was very humble. We sat together in the locker room and shared many anecdotes. He already knew a little Spanish and I French; He was a lovely boy with his feet on the ground, which is what is making him what he is right now. With all the talk about him, he continues to make a difference. Together with Haaland, I think they will be the successors of Messi and Cristiano and they will make us enjoy that rivalry.
Q: You say you already spoke some Spanish and there has always been talk of your signing for Real Madrid. Did you ask him something at that time?
A: No, I just knew individual words. But at that time I was not asking any of that because I had practically everything closed with PSG and I was not looking at other things. I don't know if you are thinking of coming to Spain or not. For the Spanish League, it would be wonderful to have the best players in the world, but at that time I did not comment on anything.