Diego López: a debut at 39

At the end of the 1999-2000 season, Diego López decided to leave CD Lugo after a whole adolescence defending the goal of the club in the capital and even living two games with the first team that year, both away from home. For this Monday, 21 years after making that decision to “be a professional and play in First Division”, The Galician goalkeeper will make his debut in the stadium of his childhood defending Espanyol's goal after one of the strongest careers for a Spanish goalkeeper in the last two decades.

“In Lugo there are very family, my friends and my roots. It is a pity that there is no public. There was a gap between my aspirations and those of the club when I decided to leave. I always had the thorn to play in Lugo and it is not known what will happen in the future. I would like to play in First against them“commented the goal, who stressed that Espanyol awaits a tough match:” I try to always be close to the team. It is a difficult block, intense, good from set pieces. He is in a good moment and has not lost at home since the new coach is here. “

Apart from his emotional reunion at Anxo Carro, the press conference became more raw when he had to talk about the situation of the team and the three goals received against Rayo Vallecano. As he was in the confessional, Diego López understands the criticism towards him but recognizes that he is the most demanding: “The criticisms that come will not be higher than what I do myself. I am calm. What I will do is the usual, work to the maximum and be available to my colleagues. Criticisms tend to always go to one side when you lose, when you win … I am cured of scares, I accept criticism. Whenever I concede goals I am critical. We analyze everything with the goalkeeper technicians. Although I am 39 years old, I still have the same demand. I am proud of everything, this is football. The goalkeeper is like the one who shoots and hits it or not. I am calm and I recognize when I am wrong “.

“It is difficult to find an argument beyond the victories”

Despite being in the direct promotion zone, three defeats in the last four LaLiga SmartBank games have set off alarms at Espanyol. Diego López understands that “if you take the side of the amateur, it is difficult to find an argument beyond the victories. But as a professional I see it differently. The course is complicated and that's where we are, we have to win to see the goal closer and we must demand more of ourselves “.

The goalkeeper, who is no longer the least beaten in the championship, harangues the group to be more focused on defense. “The defensive attitude is important and fit little. The solution is teamwork and being mental. You have to give importance to the small details. And improve individually. Confidence and optimism.”

Finally, Diego López wanted to refer to Nanny Dimata, the new parakeet reinforcement. All were words of support, As captain, he extended his hand: “I did not know him, we must help him from our position. It is difficult for him because he is young, he speaks another language and it is another type of game. We want him to contribute. It seems that he is a great player, together we have to make him have a great performance. “