Deyna Castellanos: “Derbies with Real Madrid are duels to the death”

His followers know him as What in, nickname that has become his great personal brand, and the truth is that Deyna Castellanos (22 years old, Maracay, Venezuela) she is much more than a soccer player. With innate talent and a premature explosion in the sport, the Atlético striker looks like one of the stars of world women's football. A recognition that does not weigh on him and that he wants to justify in the rojiblanco club, in which he has not stopped growing and in which he wants to win everything. Including The Best. She is young, ambitious and has all the ingredients to achieve it.

The Atlético star attends an interview with AS in the run-up to the derby with Real Madrid. And he shows great motivation for this game, which he arrives after scoring in his league debut. The previous season he was the second top scorer for the rojiblanco team with 13 goals and this year he is going for more. The challenge: score a goal every game. Will Queen Deyna make it?

How are you after this great league start?

I'm very happy. We have started as we should (victory 5-0 against Rayo Vallecano). We have worked a lot in the preseason and we wanted to start with a firm step, scoring goals and with a clean sheet. The objective is more than fulfilled and we are very motivated by it.

He debuted with a goal number. The 9 has not weighed him …

9 has always been my number. The previous season I couldn't have it because Charlyn had it and you had to respect hierarchies. When she left, I was able to return to my number 9, which I released in the best way, with a goal, an assist and three points behind me.

The team comes from beating Rayo, was this important to reach the derby with Madrid with momentum?

Yes. This motivates us a lot. Although we know the conditions in which the Rayo players were and also that Madrid have had games of a very good level, qualifying for the group stage of the Champions League. It is a very beautiful duel, which we look at with seriousness and respect.

Real Madrid played the Champions League on Wednesday, do you think they have a certain disadvantage?

I don't see it that way. This game has been prepared since it came out on the calendar. Everyone knows that a derby like this is an exciting match and I don't think there are any advantages. Whoever does better football will win.

How do you see Real Madrid?

This Real Madrid is a team in which its players look very comfortable. You have to put uncomfortable pressure on him, like Levante did.

How do you approach the party?

Derbies are duels to the death, to see who is the owner of the most beautiful city in Spain. We want to win to continue with a good streak.

Has the atmosphere in the dressing room changed after the signings and the arrival of the new coaching staff?

It's a fairly new wardrobe. But the truth is that we have made pineapple from the beginning. It is a coaching staff that really wants to work and win something. Whenever a new coach arrives, an extra competitiveness is added to get us out of our comfort zone and improve in all aspects.

They come from living a complicated season …

Beyond injuries, individually I had a good season. Collectively, it is true that it has that bittersweet taste because we could not qualify for the Champions League. I think this will make us want to be in Europe more

You came to Atleti with the world star poster, has the pressure ever weighed on you?

It's nice to have that pressure. Although I do not feel it that way, but I see it as a support. People see the potential I have and I can give to the team and that's why they demand of me. I see that as beautiful and I thank the fans, who are the best in the world, for supporting us in this way, both in good times and in bad times.

Is it very difficult to be Deyna Castellanos?

It has its difficulties because you are in the eye of the hurricane all the time. But it is true that I like it. I have grown up with this. From a very young age I have been in the same eye of the hurricane and I know how to deal with it. Now I enjoy much more than before and that is also due to the fact that I play for a club as big as this one.

At the sporting level, is it being desperate that the League is professional, but we have to wait another year for it to be for all intents and purposes?

It is a disappointment because the Spanish League is one of the best leagues in the world. We have the European champion in this League and that gives a lot to talk about with regard to the level that there is. But hey, we are trying to focus on nothing more than football. Obviously, in that type of thing in which they do not treat us as they should be treated, it shocks us a lot. But there is nothing else for us to do. We can only complain and play, showing how beautiful women's football is.

What is your individual short-term goal?

I am focused on the collective objectives that we have in the team, which is to win all the tournaments that are possible. Individually, my challenge is to contribute goals or assists to the team in each game. A personal goal that I have is to try to score every game. It's difficult but not impossible.

I read your manager in an interview saying that one day you would raise The Best award. Is that your big long-term goal?

Yes. Without a doubt the goal is to win The Best award sometime. I think that with a lot of work it can be achieved. It is a dream that I have since I was little. I've already been to that gala and now I just need to go back and get out of there with my hands full. I am a young and very ambitious player. As the years go by and you gain experience, time will tell.

In these months the debate on homophobia is very latent. You received serious comments on your social networks after posting an image on Pride Day. What do you think of this spiral of hatred around this issue?

It is a cultural issue. Most of the comments I received in that publication were unfortunately from my compatriots and there we also see why the situation in the country is what it is. Little by little I think it will change, the more people speak out against it, whether or not they are homosexual. It is important that we all do so because we are all free to choose the people we like. You have to fight so that love always wins. It is difficult to receive such comments and it makes me very sad because anyone can have a family member or friend who is homosexual and everyone must love him for what he is and not for what he likes.

Among athletes there is also a great taboo to talk about this topic …

Yes. In the case of male contact sports, it is still very difficult for a man to come out and say that he is homosexual because society does not allow it. There are some stereotypes that make this impossible. But hopefully this will change in terms of the thinking of many and the world progresses …