Juan Fernandez Blanco, known footballingly as Juan Ibiza, this past Saturday became the first Ibizan to play with UD Ibiza in Second. With his participation in the match against Burgos, the center-back goes down in history for the sport of the Pitiusas. “As the days go by and with time one realizes that these are important things. I am very happy and proud,” said the defender, who hopes that there will be “many more” who may have the opportunity like him. “They have been working very well on the island lately. That is why the team is going up. It has grown a lot,” says the footballer, who left the island when he was a child who noticed the Villarreal.
When he left Ibiza he was 11 years old, to train in one of the best quarries in the country, such as the Villarreal. It was in 2006 and it has rained a lot since then. After several years at the Castellón club, where he was well liked, he also went through the Almeria and for him Sabadell, with whom he played in Second. Now he makes his way to Ibiza, to also be a prophet in his land. The rise of the club chaired by Amadeo Salvo has allowed him to continue his professional career at home, in front of his family, showing that on the island there can also be very good players who can reach professional football, as Marcos García Barreno, Carlos Tomás, Feliciano Casanova, Toni Arabí or Antonio Ferrer Díaz did in the past..
See yourself in Ibiza, defending his hometown team, made him “very happy”, also in front of a devoted fans. “The atmosphere in Can Misses is wonderful. People don't stop cheering. That seems like a party. Playing at home again after so many years is a tremendous joy for me,” he said. Juan Ibiza.
The Ibicenco is also part of a historical project, since never before had an Ibizan team reached Second. And, to round it out, UD Ibiza is being the revelation of the category. He is fourth, although there is no euphoria in the dressing room, he says Juan Ibiza. “People are happy because the results are being seen, but we always have our feet on the ground. We know that it is a category in which you win two games and get promoted directly or in the 'playoff', or lose two games and fall. to relegation. We all know that. We are working day by day, along the same lines, and we fully trust what we do, “added the player, who felt” comfortable “in his debut as a celestial. He “adapts” to the mechanisms of the team he trains Juan Carlos Carcedo placeholder image, but had to ask for the change due to cramps.
Objective, beat Eibar
The defender of the celestes is already thinking about the next commitment of his team, which visits the Eibar this Sunday. The Ibicenco expects a “complicated” match as the Basques have “one of the best squads in the category”. “They are all people with experience in the Second Division and they have made a very good team. It was difficult for them to start a little, but it is clear that they have already done it. We are going to have a very difficult game, for sure,” said the defender.
However, the Spaniard trusts his team's options, because they have a “good squad” and are “doing a good job.” But a demanding October is coming, with six meetings in a month, of which four will be away from home. “There are many away games and very closely followed. Last season has passed, which was a fairly compressed League, with matches during the week. It is tough, but for that we have a fairly complete squad. We are going to compete as we are doing so far and always looking for the three points, “added the island defender.