“It is confirmed with the coronavirus that we work better together”

Collected in his house in Madrid, like the rest of the responsible citizens, David Aganzo (Leganés, 1981) heeds the call from AS to analyze the coronavirus crisis that has paralyzed sport and which has already resulted in numerous infected footballers whom He represents from the union he presides over.

First, how are you and your family?

Fine, thank goodness, fine. The closest people are without symptoms, so I'm not complaining.

He has been seen on television wearing a mask. Are you especially concerned?

I have to take care of myself a little more because of a failure that I have from birth. I was born with a deficit of defenses and my immunity is lower than most. Let's say that, unfortunately, I am a population at risk. It happened to me when I was playing. You have to be careful, monitor the level of vitamins, iron and such things. But come on, I'm fine.

How does time kill at home? Maybe it gives us some idea …

Teleworking, which for many is new. The little time we have left, because watching series and reading. We are not bored. And you have to do sports. At the moment, in three days I have not gained weight … I had already gained everything before (laughs).

Did you think a few days ago that I was going to get so ugly?

We already warned you. We were very concerned and made aware of the situation by the fact that we have a great relationship with the Italian footballers union (The president is his former partner in Levante, Damiano Tommassi) They already told us that at first it seemed like a simple virus but that very serious things were happening as we are now seeing in Spain. We are on alert, but we must have peace of mind. Hopefully soon it will lessen to the point of disappearing.

There are already several cases of infection in Spanish football. Have you spoken to those affected?

No the truth is no. I have not spoken directly to them. But we have been in contact with many soccer players, most of them captains of our soccer. Cases have come out, like all over the world. The virus makes no difference and we are all human. It is a global issue and not a sport. When we wrote the letter to the CSD, LaLiga and the RFEF to stop the competitions, we knew perfectly well what we were talking about, although, yes, not the level we are at. It seems like you still have to go through higher peaks, so calm down. We must be at home protecting ourselves.

AFE was the first body to demand that the competition be suspended but it took a couple of days. Do you think it should have been done before?

Yes. It could have been done before but we didn't get anything out of looking back or blaming anyone. It is the point where we are. We all have to add and be responsible. You can't play with people's health.

What do soccer players transmit to you when you talk to them?

Concern. It is the first time this has happened to us and it is normal. There is a lot of uncertainty about training and contracts. We are trying to convey tranquility. The first thing is health and then we will see everything else. We await instructions from the Government for everything.

While some companies lay off these days, do EREs and ERTEs, their union has many of its 10,000 members calling to inquire. They still have to be reinforced …

The truth is that we do not stop. It is what it touches and it is our function. We are talking to everyone who requests it. We are asking for calm and that closeness with the changing rooms always exists because we have delegates from all over Spain to reach all the teams and categories. People are understanding that you have to train individually, not catch or catch it.

Rooney has said that in the Premier, players have been used as “guinea pigs.” Has something like this happened in the League?

No. AFE has been in permanent contact with all the institutions and from the first moment we knew what there is and we have worked well.

Many alternative solutions are already being put on the table in order to finish the competition. Which one do you see more viable?

Right now the most important thing for us is health. From there, the rest will come later. When it stabilizes we will see together. We don't know any when this situation will last.

There have already been cases of clubs that have communicated to their players that they must return to face-to-face training. How will AFE approach this problem?

We advise soccer players not to go to the training place to work. It does not make sense that everyone is at home to stop this virus and footballers are going to start training in a group … Individual training can be done.

This situation is novel. How does AFE deal with it when asked if there may be layoffs or obligations to go to training or to take vacations?

Players have to do what their clubs tell them to. They are workers like any other. What we do ask is that all clubs ensure the health of athletes. There is no going back.

If the championship is resumed and extended more than expected, there will be players who will no longer cover the contract they signed until June 30 … Have you thought of any measure to solve it?

Not right now. Next week we will meet with the RFEF and LaLiga in the Monitoring Committee and we will see. It worries, but in the long term. Now let's focus on health. We are in the first phase. It is that we do not know how many days the championship is going to stop altogether. To speak of futures is to speak too much.

What are the next steps to be followed by AFE?

Stop the virus. There are no more steps. But I already told you that the players want to play again as before and as soon as possible, and to return to normality at work. Footballers are happy playing and they want to play every game, be happy and help people. Now they know that responsibility is involved and then it will be their turn to compete again.

It had been a long time since you saw so much union between institutions. Has the coronavirus linked LaLiga, RFEF and AFE?

You are right. I always said so. I would love for us to have a closer relationship between everyone, between CSD, LaLiga, RFEF and AFE. All together we can fight problems and we have to be much more united and not only for these very serious problems. It has been confirmed that together we are a good team and we work better together. We must look for the general good and we are on the right track.

At least we are going to get rid of all the RFEF elections …

It would make perfect sense to be delayed. Now the important thing is health. It is a matter of common sense and you have to find logical solutions.

How true is it that you traveled to Porto to convince Casillas to take the step to stand for election?

I have a lot of relationship with Iker. I do not have anything to hide. Her parents are neighbors of my family in Boadilla and we have known each other for a long time. I went to see how he was because he is living a delicate personal situation. It hurts me that they want to get personal topics interested. I understand the curiosity, but I do not have a vote in the elections and AFE will always give the players the opportunity to decide what to do.