José Juan Figueiras García (Vigo, 1979) ends turning 42 years old. The goalkeeper is one of the faces most famous of this Alcoyano looking for his second consecutive feat against Madrid. He lives a second youth in El Collao, where he is a hero and everyone adores him. Last year it was a wall. His stops went around the world.
How many interviews have you taken this week?
(Laughs). Many, but it is normal. I am somewhat saturated. It is also appreciated because you have to enjoy this moment to the fullest.
On December 31, he turned 42 years old. Do you keep putting these games on?
Of course. These matches are rarely repeated in one’s sports career. We all have to enjoy the visit of Real Madrid, especially the fans because last year they couldn’t.
Parras says he sees too much responsibility in his players. Is there pressure in the locker room to repeat the feat?
I insist that we have to live this with enthusiasm. The team is happy, but it is true that it has a bit of responsibility that has to be removed as soon as possible. We must think that it is a prize.
But can they eliminate Madrid again?
Of course it can be repeated. Why not? We played eleven against eleven. Last year it was already very complicated, but I think now it will be triple because Madrid already know what happened. But nobody is going to win against illusion and morals.
Go to Madrid with stiff ears for what he says …
I have seen Ancelotti’s statements and they are going to take the game very seriously because everything is very recent. That gives us more encouragement because we know that Madrid will come with everything.
The same is a slab for Alcoyano to see the field full …
We have people who have played promotion phases to Second and they know what it is. It is nice to play with a field to burst and for me it is an extra motivation that people take you on the fly.
How do you remember about last year?
To eliminate Madrid they have to give a series of circumstances and last year they put everything in a cocktail shaker and we passed. Madrid do not have to have their day in attack and Alcoyano must take advantage of their few chances. That is key.
It is also vital that José Juan makes a great game.
We all have to be okay. Last year I had a good game, but I’m sure I’ve had better or equal afternoons. But the repercussion that everything has against Madrid …
Have you seen the match repeated?
A couple of times I have seen it in its entirety, but it is my 11-year-old daughter who puts the summary of that day on the tablet every two by three. Now he also sees the penalties against Levante when we eliminate them. I like to see her so happy.
“We can eliminate Madrid again, but I think it will be three times as difficult”
José Juan, Alcoyano goalkeeper
Can you imagine those stops and that night with the field full?
It would have been the bomb. I remember it was very strange to make a pineapple on the grass, celebrate it in the locker room and see the empty stands. The circumstances were very rare because Madrid is not eliminated every day.
Is it a relief that Vinicius and Benzema don’t come?
It may be because they are in a great moment, but Madrid have a lot of people at the top who can score a goal. I insist that Ancelotti has said that they are going to take the game very seriously and we are proud that Real Madrid take it that way.
It seems that they arrive hurt after Getafe …
Last year they also came to Alcoy after losing to Athletic in the Super Cup and they said we were going to pay for the broken dishes. In the end, it’s football and anything can happen.
“My 11-year-old daughter is the one who is watching the summary of last year all day”
José Juan, Alcoyano goalkeeper
Whose shirt did he take?
I asked Courtois for it and I keep it next to mine.
Go brown for Lunin.
I have seen that he will play a year later. He has to reappear in the same field, before the same rival and after what happened. Fate is like that and I don’t know what will go through his head when he takes to the field.
What madness will he do if they eliminate Madrid again?
I’m not very crazy, but I already told you that it would be incredible to be able to give that to the Alcoyano fans on such a special night for them.