Angulo: “Training in the elite is a goal, but I’m in no rush”

How is it? What a start to the season he has his Mestalla, he has them leaders.

Very happy because the results are taking place, the kids are working well, the first team is counting on several players for training sessions, which was one of the most important goals being achieved. The priority was from day one to empower the players that we believe have a projection, the secondary objective, which is promotion, at the moment we are on our way to achieving it.

You took the Valencian subsidiary after a season in which it declined. How was the equipment found?

We detect some anxiety in footballers to return to the path of victory after a difficult season. This year, despite the fact that we started well, at the least that there was a draw, we perceived doubts and anxiety in the players again. We have been improving in this regard, achieving good results and the players can now calmly think about the objective of being in the first team and putting the Mestalla where it deserves.

From what he says, his main work in these first months at the subsidiary seems to have been more mental than tactical …

Well, the players really wanted things to go well for them and not have a negative year in which we were in the lower zone again. Many players who fell last year had not been in the ‘mud’ in their entire lives and that is not easy to manage. The positive is that as a result of that they have matured a lot.

Do you find it difficult to be promoted to Second RFEF?

We have the favorite tag from the beginning to the end, we do not shy away from it because we believe that we have the team to be at the top, although also with great humility.

I say this because I remember that at a press conference he was annoyed that the phrase ‘they are in Third, how they are not going to win’ existed in the environment.

Yes, it is something that is repeated a lot everywhere, also on social networks. We perceive that some players do not know how to live with the obligation from the beginning to win, not to be able to make a single mistake. We believe that those comments could be a burden and what we are looking for is to take that pressure off them, because we must not forget that the objective is to train players.

And what happens when in a reserve team there is a player who is very good, stands out a lot, is a leader … But he does not fit in with the style of play of the first team coach?

If we consider that the player within the category he is in is not improving because he has exceeded that ceiling, the logical thing is to seek a transfer to a higher category or in another competition.

Let’s talk now about the Coach Angle … How would you define yourself as a coach?

I am a coach who is in a learning process, the world of football requires constant updating to the different problems that arise and I am on that path. When you are a coach, mistakes do not exist and you must be well prepared, with many accumulated experiences. I think I am on that learning path. When it comes to player philosophy … (laughs), sorry coach, I like to have the ball and press up. I think that by playing like this you get order, discipline and attack the rival goal a lot.

Has that philosophy had to be molded or adapted when playing in Third?

Undoubtedly. I have had to adapt to the category because there was not much information about it and also because we have to have two different game philosophies, I mean: It is not the same to play at Puchades, where teams tend to lock themselves up more, to play outside. of house on different grounds etc. I think, in fact, that it is something positive for players to develop in different game contexts.

And at the wardrobe management level? I remember a phrase of his after a game in which he said something like: “In the face of difficulties we wanted the players to find the solutions themselves, not to give them up to us”. Does that mean that Angulo is a little interventionist technician?

Yes, let’s see, I try to give soccer players some guidelines, but I tell them that within those guidelines there are a thousand or two thousand possible paths that lead to the solution, that they choose the one they think is the most appropriate, not the first or the easiest . I even tell them not only to stick with the ones I propose, but to explore them! We are in a category with very young people who are learning and our job is to give them the context for them to find solutions. The ‘creative’ part of the players is very difficult to train, that’s where the talent of the players comes out.

Seeing the context in current football in which many former coaches move to ‘top’ teams without previous experience, having started from the base like you seems an exception …

Well, each one has its processes. Zidane, Pirlo, Xavi … If they believed they were ready to make the leap, they would be. There are some who have done very well and there are others who have not.

And what process are you in?

I am in the process of continuing to improve to continue learning solutions for team problems. I believe that time gives the opportunity in the short or long term. But I am not in that sense very fast, I want to take it easy to continue learning.

But does Angulo have aspirations to reach the elite or does he enjoy training in grassroots football?

Man, I would like in the future to train in the elite, but arriving little by little, by little steps. But I’m not in a hurry, I started with boys of 12, then 15 of 18 and now of 20. I was in the first team as assistant coach etc. I don’t set time for myself, I’m going to let everything come naturally.

What he says makes sense applied to Valencia, because if you look at the last two former players who took the reins (Pellegrino and Djuckic), both were fired early.

Well, I don’t look at that either, because I think that sooner or later the opportunity will come to me. I don’t know if here at Valencia or at another club, but when the moment comes I will know that I am ready. Maybe it reaches me and I don’t look ready yet.

How many years have you been at Valencia?

13 as player 8 as coach. I was out for two to three years between getting my title and doing internships at other clubs. About 21-22 years or so in total.

Is it difficult to generate a positive atmosphere now in this Valencia?

Well, I try to generate that with my coaching staff. When you are optimistic you can get more out of people, in a negative environment it is more difficult. What we also need is that I can delegate my functions to those who work with me and do it at the same performance. I do not know if that transferred to the club can be assimilated.

Is there a good batch of young kids coming to take the baton from Soler, Gayà etc?

There are players who do, who have a very good projection and in two or three years they will be in the first team. There are others that generate more doubts and that have yet to mature. There are players at this age who ‘cheat’: it seems that they are going to arrive but then they stagnate. Then there are others who seem unable to get there but because of their ability to compete they manage to settle into the elite.

And how do you manage that? I mean, maybe a subsidiary center-back needs six games to get filming and show what he can give, but just at that moment the team doesn’t do well for that center-back to play.

That is the duality, the eternal struggle of the subsidiaries. I mean, it seems that it is difficult for people to see a subsidiary in Tercera RFEF but maybe it will go and that year they will get four five players out for the first team. Maybe if we were in La Liga Smartbank at the results level we would be happy but maybe no players would come out. We are in that duality: if we bet on young people it will be difficult to achieve results, if not, we will win but we will not train players. The key is balance.

What wish would you ask for promotion to 2022 or for a player from the subsidiary to become established in the first team?

Both.