Manu García: “I wanted to live other experiences”

How about Cyprus?

Well, acclimatizing both myself and the family. But we are happy, it is a good place to live. You long for parents, siblings, and friends, but you wanted to change your scene a bit. The bad thing is that, during the day, it is terribly hot and you can hardly go out to do anything. I have read a lot about the island, but we have not done many visits yet. We'll have time when we've been around longer.

You experienced a special pressure with the Alavés captain's armband for being from Vitoria, right?

The truth is that it was different than for the others. They stopped you on the street, they told you things, they asked you … when everything was going well it was comfortable, but if things got complicated you also had to show your face. Not only me, but also all the people in my family. In that sense, it has been a break. I already knew what it meant to be captain of Alavés having been born in Vitoria, but I think I experienced more good things than bad being so. In that sense I am very proud.

Did you talk to any players who had played on the island before?

Yes, for example with Iñigo Calderón, with whom I met at Alavés and who gave me very good references in every way. He lived in Larnaca and I lived in Limassol, a little further south. With Calderón I have a fairly great friendship relationship. We have had many coffees talking about football and the club. Actually, I spoke with ten or twelve people who had previously been through Cypriot football and all their references encouraged us to come here. We wanted to live other experiences and, for example, having come to Cyprus is helping us to improve our English. They are life experiences, not just football.

With whom have you traveled to Cyprus?

With my wife and my son. Limassol is a very comfortable city, not very big and nice. It is surprising that you can see super luxurious houses and then much simpler neighborhoods. But you eat well and, if it weren't for the heat now, it's quite comfortable. We are happy with the decision made.

What group has been found in the Aris Limassol?

Good people and a good atmosphere, the truth is that I was pleasantly surprised. I have coincided with some footballers that I knew from other teams such as Dani Pacheco, who also passed through Alavés. Roncaglia is also here and quite a few Portuguese and Brazilians who have passed through the Spanish league and whom he already knew. They have all received us very well and the environment is quite familiar, with people who are recognizable to you.

It was decided pretty early. Once the wounds from his departure from Alavés had healed, why did you decide on Aris?

He did not want to force too much in the market, to reach August 31 without a team. My initial idea was to wait for an offer from Primera, but if it didn't come out, I didn't mind packing my bags and flying to another country. There was some option in Second, we studied the situation among the relatives, and we decided to come to Cyprus to live a different experience. I, who am always in Vitoria with my parents, siblings, wife and child, I usually consult with all of them on these types of decisions. And we all thought it was fine.

Cyprus is very particular, right? Even with a wall that splits the island in two and divides the territory into the Greek and Turkish zones.

Very interesting, really. For now, rather than visiting, I have read things. I repeat that we will have plenty of time to get fully into the island. Here we live very similar to Greece. In every way, the food, the people, the customs, the religion. Limassol is a city with some British tinge because of the base that is to the south of the island, in the same town where we are living.

What are the goals of the Limassol team? Larnaca or the Nicosia ensembles for example are better known.

There are five or six clubs that are always playing in the league and then, teams like Paphos and us who want to be the closer to them, the better. So we could enter the previews of the European tournaments. In Limassol there are more clubs and, although ours is the most historic, it has not been the most powerful in recent years and has moved between the First and Second divisions. We will try to be as high as possible.

It was decided pretty early. Once the wounds from his departure from Alavés had healed, why did you decide on Aris?

He did not want to force too much in the market, to reach August 31 without a team. My initial idea was to wait for an offer from Primera, but if it didn't come out, I didn't mind packing my bags and flying to another country. There was some option in Second, we studied the situation among the relatives, and we decided to come to Cyprus to live a different experience. I, who am always in Vitoria with my parents, siblings, wife and child, I usually consult with all of them on these types of decisions. And we all thought it was fine.

Cyprus is very particular, right? Even with a wall that splits the island in two and divides the territory into the Greek and Turkish zones.

Very interesting, really. For now, rather than visiting, I have read things. I repeat that we will have plenty of time to get fully into the island. Here we live very similar to Greece. In every way, the food, the people, the customs, the religion. Limassol is a city with some British tinge because of the base that is to the south of the island, in the same town where we are living.

What are the goals of the Limassol team? Larnaca or the Nicosia ensembles for example are better known.

There are five or six clubs that are always playing in the league and then, teams like Paphos and us who want to be the closer to them, the better. So we could enter the previews of the European tournaments. In Limassol there are more clubs and, although ours is the most historic, it has not been the most powerful in recent years and has moved between the First and Second divisions. We will try to be as high as possible.

Has the competition already started?

Yes, there are 22 league matches and we have already played the first. And we won, at home, Olympiakos de Nicosia (1-2). Then there has been a break so that the most powerful clubs can play European competition and, also, this week's national teams. Next week comes the derby, with Apollon Limassol and it will be a very special day for us.

How long have you signed and how do you see your future in football with Aris?

-For one year, with the option of a second. Then we will see what happens, if I continue or if I return to Spanish football. As I said at the Alavés farewell press conference, I think I still have a good time.

What is Cypriot football like and how is it different from here?

It is quite physical and, in that sense, I feel comfortable because I am a player with the capacity for involvement and sacrifice. I think we can have a good season. In fact, we got the first victory thanks to that intensity, we got a pretty good game. But there are also very interesting talents and players. It is true that football can be a bit messier, but I think that it has grown a lot in recent years and that it will progress because, in addition, it has many foreign players.

How do you see Alavés from a distance?

-You have to be calm because this is not how it begins but how it ends. You also have to understand that there is some concern about the results. In addition, now there is a stoppage for the national teams, it is necessary to see if the Villarreal game is played. Total, that we are in the third week of September and no points have been added yet. The calendar has not helped too much either.

Have you been able to see it on television?

-Yes, the second part against Madrid. Then it coincided with my matches and it was more difficult to see them. But I follow him closely.

Are you still a member?

Of course, that is not even asked.

Are you still in contact with colleagues from last year?

Yes, with Martín, Pacheco or Laguardia for example. I am also glad that others like Rodrigo Ely have found equipment. He has gone to Nottingham Forest and I think it is a very good choice. They are not ex-teammates, but real friends, the kind that you will have for life. We are in constant contact, really.

You, who are very fond of photography, are putting on your boots to take snapshots of the island, right?

Yes, there are very interesting places to visit. Many historical remains from the Greek and Roman times, Mount Olympus in the middle of the island, the beaches, the coast, the monasteries. It is a very advisable place to visit. It is the island of Aphrodite. But, I repeat, in this heat you can hardly go out to visit. We will have time for it.