Bryan Gil: “Mendilibar instilled in me the DNA of intensity, which is something that Bordalás wants from me”

Bryan Gil, who has just turned 21, has recovered his smile in Mestalla, “because when a footballer does not play he is sad, downcast”, which is how he felt in London. He now dreams of reaching his first Cup final and next year, he will see: “I am an errand.” The man from Cádiz confesses that this semifinal against Athletic was largely to blame for his signing, for his decision to join Valencia in the January market, as well as the interest shown by the club, with calls from Jose Bordalás included, and the presence of colleagues and friends as Carlos Soler, Hugo Guillamon and José Luis Gayà.

The fans now only think about tomorrow’s game, does a footballer also have it on his mind all the time?

The footballer has to be with his mind one hundred percent when he is training, but outside he has to disconnect. What he feels is the strength that the fans transmit to us, for them it is special, but we have to be calm. You have to be as if it were one more game and then give everything as if it were the last.

Mestalla on Wednesday…

It’s going to be impressive, we know it in the locker room. The fans will give everything and we have to live up to them.

How are you?

I feel more prepared than ever. The whole team is psyched up. We want to get to that final. We want to give that joy to the fans and to ourselves.

What match are you waiting for?

A duel from you to you. You have to be solid at the back and resolute at the top. Whoever is more forceful in the areas, will pass. There will be a very high level of intensity, it is the DNA of both: press, go for the rival…

The ‘bronco DNA and cupbearer’ that is talked about so much in Valencia.

So is. I identify with that way of thinking. It is also the Mendilibar DNA, which was so good for me at Eibar. He instilled in me to be more intense, to be more aggressive and that is something that Bordalás also wants from me.

Because of that ‘DNA’, for being aggressive, they are criticized…

The DNA looks at you when you win. That is only talked about when one does not win. We have to isolate ourselves from that. If they say I’m aggressive, then another virtue, because being tough in modern football is good.

Have they lost the surprise factor of their match in San Mamés?

I don’t think what we did in San Mamés was a surprise. Everyone knows the potential that Valencia has and I think we were able to take victory there. I hope it’s the same here.

Do you feel that you have landed on your feet in Valencia?

Since the first day. I spoke with Carlos (Soler), the coach called me… The club wanted him to come as much as I wanted to come.

I understand that the Cup influenced his decision

I would tell you that I came to be able to play this game. For me, winning a title at my age would be a dream and I knew that Valencia was in the fight to reach the final. Obviously I came because at Tottenham I wasn’t playing the minutes that every player wants and here they told me that if I earned them, I would have them.

What do I call Valencia apart from being able to play a Cup final?

The trust. Also meet important people from the locker room like Carlos (Soler), Hugo (Guillamón) or Gayà. When I spoke with my agent I told him that I wanted to go to a club where I would feel important, with minutes… and Valencia fulfilled all those requirements. In addition, it is a club like history, there was the Cup… I feel very comfortable on and off the field.

Was the worst thing about your first months in London not having continuity?

Of course. Every player needs and wants to have continuity, feel important. Here in Valencia I am feeling it from the first day. That shows on the field, in training, the attitude, you see football with another face. You always have to be psyched up in case you have to live the other part, and I lived it in London. Not playing affects you on a day-to-day basis, obviously, because you are sadder and more downcast. But it is part of football and you have to accept it. And the experience in London has been good for me.

In what sense?

Being in another country, playing in another league, going through complicated personal situations far from home… these are small steps that you have to take and that make you mature. I’m young, but in football there is no age and you have to assimilate each situation as best you can.

In Valencia you have played in the six possible games, have you not accused the inactivity?

In the Premier training sessions are very physical, very hard, and that has helped me not to feel fatigue now.

The physique is so noticeable in the Premier.

Yes. It shows a lot, really. It is a slightly higher level of intensity. I physically noticed it. The adaptation for me was difficult. It is a very physical football, back and forth. Being there has been good for me, even if I didn’t play what I wanted. I am more mature. I changed habits like eating, I had a chef at home and I gained two kilos. Even so, I noticed that it was not enough for the physical level that exists in the Premier. In Valencia I continue to work hard on endurance, physicality, in case I have to come back, to be prepared.

Do you see yourself back then?

I belong to Tottenham and they are the ones who have to decide. It’s not up to me.

Are there options for him to stay at Valencia?

That will depend on the clubs.

And what do you think?

I am just an errand.