He has just completed 100 official matches with the shirt of the Real society (76 in the league, 14 in the Europa League, 9 in the Cup and 1 in the Super Cup). Since he arrived in 2017 to the first team, he has not stopped growing until he becomes a regular on a right back that he shares with Joseba Zaldua. Gorosabel it goes through BE SPORTY GIPUZKOA to look back, and analyze in passing all the txuri-urdin news.
Congratulations. 100 games with Real, it is said soon…
Round number. It’s quite a lot, when you start you can’t imagine it. Now to continue working to fulfill many more.
Do you remember your debut?
Yes Yes. You remember that for life, you never forget.
Thinking about this when you debuted was impossible?
Unclear. When you start you realize that in the elite it is very difficult to play games. But with work and enthusiasm I have managed to reach this figure.
Did he have the number or did they tell him?
What’s up, I didn’t follow much how many games he had. But when they told me, it did surprise me and I thought they were enough. I didn’t imagine it. Very happy and very excited.
Do you know that you have played more games in Europe than in the Cup?
(Smiles) Yes, the year I debuted I also played two European games. Precisely these years are the ones that we have entered Europe and I have been able to play a lot in Europe, it is very nice.
You’ll want to play more, but do you already know that only Real, two-time league champions, managed three European qualifiers in a row?
It is very difficult, and there is a lot of competition because it is very long. And entering these years in Europe speaks very highly of the team and the club. And we hope that this year the third consecutive classification will arrive.
How have you lived this complicated moment of the season as was the month of February?
It was a bit hard, because of the elimination from the Cup and Europe. But those two league victories were key and give us a lot of strength. And although we have just lost at the Bernabéu, we reach the final stage with a lot of hunger and strength, and fighting to enter Europe again, which speaks very highly of the team.
Imanol even said that the team arrived at the Bernabéu very physically affected. Are they so tired?
It may be that at the end of the season you arrive fairer, after having played three competitions. But I feel that the team reaches the end well, now unfortunately we only have one game a week, so we are going to take advantage of it to be able to fight with everything to continue in Europe.
How have you felt on the left side due to circumstances?
He had already played in that position. Change the way you play and defend a bit. But on one side and the other, the function is the same, and wherever the coach wants to put me, I will adapt in the best way.
How are you feeling this season because it is more difficult to confirm?
When you arrive, it costs. But staying is one more step, and what you want is to continue growing to be at a better level. I feel very good, I feel that I am well at the end of the season, and I hope to increase my level to help the team.
How do you see receiving goals in some games and then collecting clean sheets?
In the end they are hard defeats, and it is true that they do a little damage. But the clean sheets speak to the fact that we are a fairly solid and efficient defense, even though we have conceded all those goals in some games. I think you have to keep working to avoid it and keep keeping a clean sheet because that makes you closer to victory.
Are you worried about the lack of a goal?
I think that the quality of the strikers is there, and our strikers have gunpowder. The players at the top have the goal and in the end it will have to come to them. We are sure, and in this way we will be closer to achieving Europe’s objective.
What do you say about this Alavés de Mendilibar?
We already know him from Eibar, and he is becoming more and more like what he wants. It is a very dangerous team, but I feel that we arrived well, and with the desire we have and the help of our people, we will be able to get the three points.
Has Januzaj told you anything about his renewal or his departure to Napoli?
I haven’t talked to him about it. It’s something of yours. But it is clear that he is a great player and we would love for him to stay. Not much has been said about it. It’s his stuff, I don’t know if he’ll have it decided, or what’s on his mind. But we want him to stay. And I also know that he is comfortable, at least I see that he is very well here in Donostia.