David Cobeño receives AS in the press room of the Ciudad Deportiva to talk about the past, present and future, focusing on sports and being satisfied with the team’s progress and its design. He dreams of seeing a rayista in the National Team and that the Strip takes root in the First Division. The arrival of Falcao adds up.
—LaLiga returns with Rayo sixth, did you imagine a start like this?
– Already in preseason the team looked very compact and knowing what to do. The new ones have adapted quickly and things are going better than we anticipated.
—Is it hard not to get excited seeing yourself in European positions?
—Yes, but we must be realistic and from within we know that we will suffer to endure in First. The goal is very clearly permanence.
“Tell me about Iraola.”
-I’m very happy. Last year there was a difficult moment, after losing in Sabadell, in which it seemed that we were falling off the playoffs. That week we talked a lot and I told him to be confident because they were doing well. It was a losing streak. I told him on WhatsApp that I was convinced that we would achieve the goal … And look! Much of the promotion was achieved by him with the change of system in Montilivi. It has people super plugged in. He loves his job.
“Could a rayista have been on the Spanish list?”
“Yes, we have thought about it.” Here we have footballers who adapt very well to how the National Team plays. Let’s see if we can see it in the near future … It would be the icing on the cake.
– What assessment do you make of the squad?
—As soon as the 20-21 ended, the coach and I met with the president and put several names on the table. We have been able to sign almost everyone. We brought people with little experience in Primera, but with a lot of desire. We are happy with the squad that has remained for the present and the future.
“Much of the promotion is yours due to the change in the system in Montilivi”
ABOUT IRAOLA
– How was the signing of Falcao forged?
“We were looking for a forward.” Days before the market closed, we were surveyed internally by Falcao and we analyzed it, not in terms of football because we already know what it is, but in terms of injuries. Everything was quick and easy because he put a lot of facilities. It is an honor that a player of that stature comes. At the sports and media level, it gives us a little jump that we should take advantage of.
“And what impact has your arrival at the Lightning had?”
—We are not used to having this type of player, who moves so much worldwide, and now the club must grow in many aspects to reach what is demanded. Hopefully we are up to the task.
“What is day to day like?”
—Falcao makes it very easy because he is a simple, calm person… He drags a lot of people, especially Colombians, but being so natural, he makes it easy for the rest of us.
—A few days ago the renewal of Óscar Valentín was announced, is there any more in process?
“We have advanced conversations with someone else and hopefully we can announce them soon.” Many finish in two years and with that type of player is who we are talking to. As we close some, we will advance in others.
—Is Rayo’s interest in Alexis Sánchez true?
“Now a lot of rumors are coming out.” It is the advantage of having Falcao, footballers of a different profile appear from the one we used to sign. To this day we have not spoken with anyone in the face of January. There will be time. Now we have to focus on who are here, both sportingly and contractually, and improve certain players.
– Are you considering reinforcing any demarcation already?
-No. We are so happy with the squad that we have no reason to be looking at anything. Time will tell if there are injuries, if the coach asks us for a specific profile …
“And will there be exits?”
—Yes, that’s the only ‘but’ on the template. There are too many people for the day-to-day and management of the coach. We have done what we can, but the market has been difficult and weird.
—It was requested to delay the match against Elche so that Falcao had more margin… He will hardly train for a day.
—We spoke with LaLiga in case we could move it to Monday and he told us that there were teams with a similar situation, including Elche, and that we were going to be on equal terms. We cannot do more than abide by it.
—At Elche he scored his only goal, from goal to goal (2009).
-Long ago! Too bad it was worthless because we lost. It remained an anecdote.
“How many times have you seen it?”
Some. My children used to see it every day and they talked about it with their friends, now they pass from their father (laughs). They love soccer and Rayo. They come to all the games, they wear some old ones … My son and daughter dream of being Rayo players. Hopefully they can get it.
“The only ‘but’ is that there are too many people for the day to day”
ABOUT THE TEMPLATE
“Do you feel the great unknown?” Do not lavish on the media or when your name comes out.
-No. I started when I was twelve, when Juanpe signed me, then I had to go out for four or five seasons and then I spent my whole life here. At the level of supporters clubs, I have a good and good relationship with all of them. There is always some friction, but the real people of the Ray know who I am and how I am. Wherever I go, they show me their affection, the same that I have for them.
“Have you ever thought: ‘I can’t take it anymore’?”
—I have had a very bad time in specific moments in which I have been splashed with something that this job entails. In the end, the good times weigh more.
—He has lived many things, as captain, liaison with the supporters clubs, sports director …
—Before playing here, I was already coming from Móstoles to Vallecas. My lifelong neighbors got tickets and invited us. Also because he was on a team affiliated with Rayo. This is my greatest illusion. I had many opportunities to go out and in the end the colors threw me. Sometimes there are problems, confrontations and we find ourselves in the middle of the battle, but that’s what we have to do … Try to have the best possible environment. Now there isn’t. Hopefully in the short or medium term there can be that illusion again.
—There have been problems with the renewal of the season tickets.
“I found out when the club announced it.” It is a step. With the circumstances that have happened previously and with what is around, it is not ideal. Hopefully the problems are solved and people can get their compost, even though we all want it to be better. Let as many people as possible subscribe, go to the field, encourage and enjoy. Hopefully Rayo can spend many years in the First Division.
—They work with you in the Armenteros y Portillo technical secretariat. What is your job?
—Also Juan Pedro Navarro, who is in the quarry, helps us in the first team. Portillo works in the Levante area and is the one who watches the First RFEF, Second RFEF matches… And on a daily basis we are Armenteros and I. Emi watches a lot of video and goes to First and Second matches. We get on well. We know what we need and the limitations we have. So far we are doing a good job.