Mikel Oyarzabal has once again demonstrated with Jorge Valdano in ‘Universo Valdano’ that he is a normal guy in the world of football, who seems to live in a bubble. The Eibar speaks of his origins, of what the Real is, of the national team, of the Cup final… and even his former partner Martin Ødegaard.
Growth in the club. “It is not only on the field and soccer speaking but at the club and social level. Everything the club does must be taken into account. It is important that things go well on the field and also off the field. A great job is being done ”.
Precocious in everything. “In the end things in life don't choose when they come to you. Things come and you have to adapt and be in a position to live them at all times. I have had to experience exceptional things but I carry it naturally, and being the same person who came here ten years ago ”.
Personality. “He considered me a calm person who does not get carried away by any situation. And maybe that has allowed me to get to where I am ”.
Naturalness. “I think that sometimes we associate football with extravagance, and this is not always the case. Those who really know me know that I am still the same person as before when I started playing soccer. I have not changed and I like to continue being with my people ”.
Saint Sebastian. “Apart from a suitable club, you are in a suitable city to grow as a person and a footballer with wonderful people and it is a very good environment for everyone, for those of us who are from here and those who come from abroad and end up feeling this place as theirs.”
Eibar. “Luckily I consider myself lucky to leave Eibar. Part of what I am I owe to being from Eibar. It is a peculiar city full of hills. And every Saturday I had off I used to go up to Unbe with two soccer fields with my father to kick a ball four times and have a good time. And I have to thank the parents for having sacrificed so much for me, because they have always been with me. At school we used to have half an hour of recess and it was a battle playing soccer, which is seen in many courtyards, something that should not be missed with so much technology ”.
Silva. “When I was very young, by chance, Silva spent a year on loan at Eibar, then Xabi Alonso was at Real, who happened with Eibar. I was very young and I have the memory that my father told me that he was going to leave soon because he was very good and with great talent. And today I have it with me at La Real. A player with the ability to decide in a short time properly. It speaks very well of him that he has chosen to come to Real and he also speaks well of the club. Hopefully it will be in time to qie because it shows ”.
Golden generation of Spanish football. “They have set the bar very high and we are going to try to do it. The generation that comes from the European Under-21 is very good, and with those who were already in the national team, there are wickers to follow the path of the golden generation ”.
Beginnings in the Real. “The first year I came to La Real it cost a bit. I went to school until five o'clock and then a van would pick me up to train in Zubieta and I would arrive very late. It is true that the first year cost me a bit because you sacrifice a lot but you take strict schedules. And that has helped me today to what I do to be very orderly. At that time it didn't seem like a sacrifice to me but rather something I wanted to do. I had to do everything, in my house they instilled in me that to have football I had to study. My parents have always been behind to help me and squeeze me ”.
He studied business. “The first year I entered the race, I did not know that I was going to reach first grade. I liked the business world and I saw that football could end at some point. Then I was lucky to debut in First. I had three friends since I was five years old and I saw that it could be good for me to share a flat with them, so that they could help me in my studies and also to get out of that world of football.
Employee. “It's a bit of the philosophy I have. The first thing is work and sacrifice, getting involved in running and then comes the talent. Without the first the second is difficult to come. I define myself as a worker who has a certain facility in the face of goal. The first thing is dedication ”.
First debut. “I made my debut at the end of the year and then the following year I started playing and I didn't stop. It is unusual and I am very grateful. With all the coaches I have always had the opportunity to play. Everyone has given me something different. Everything is useful for learning ”.
The real. “Working in a club like Real is much easier than in any other. It is a very home club, every year people from the quarry make their debut and respond. And that defines Zubieta's work. For me, the whole environment of the Real is a perfect place to grow. The situation of the club is different from that of ten years ago. And the one who is in the Real is because he really wants to be here, wanting to be. I feel lucky to be where I am now. La Real for me is everything, my home, I feel valued by everyone. I'm in the best place that I can be to grow, and I'm going to do everything for the club to grow ”.
Captain. “It is not something usual to be a captain so young, but it is something that came to me and I tried to adapt myself to carry it as well as possible and naturally. I am in a learning process. I'm happy with it, I'm not going to tell you otherwise ”.
Selection. “Another thing that I had to live. And it was clear to me that I had to continue doing what I had done until then to continue having opportunities. I must continue on the same path with Real to continue in the national team. Our work is from Monday to Friday and then on the weekend sometimes you have to play. If you don't train during the week and don't make an effort, if you play on the weekend, you don't have those habits of running and giving it your all ”.
U21. “Personally, it was one of the sensations that I am going to stay with forever. We had been doing two very good years of clarification and then in the European he saw his full potential. I take a great memory “
New generation of Spanish football. “It is also not good for us to put the focus and pressure on us because it is clear that what happened ten years ago had never been seen. And now everyone wants to repeat but knowing that it is something very difficult and that it is within the reach of very few ”.
European and Olympic Games. “The truth is that there are many things on the horizon and that is good, because it means that things are being done well. It is difficult if I am going to go to one place or another, but for everything I will do my part. I would love everything, the European and the Olympics. Everyone wants to be in all things, but it is a decision that is not in my hands.
Cup Final. “It will be decaffeinated, because there will be no people but we have to work to try to make sure that the chances of winning are high.”
Super Cup. “We came out hurt because we were close to the final and it went away on penalties and it was cruel. But we realized that we can compete against anyone ”.
Win a title. “A lot of work has been done in recent years so that they reach final like this. And if you win, it gives you a bonus, but you don't have to go crazy. If it is not won, something is being built so that you have other opportunities ”.
Basque final. “He speaks well of Basque football because an exceptional job is done with the youth academy and with good people who work in the shadows. The work that is done in Zubieta is brutal. Everyone feels that if they do their job well so that everyone can grow ”.
Zubieta. For a club like the real one to work, it is key that Zubieta continues to bear fruit. If that ceases to exist, the real one will notice it. The work that is done there is vital because it is its main source ”.
Imanol Sheriff. “He is a coach who really shows what Real is and what it means for many people. He is the coach who can give the real one some very good years. He identifies with the work he has done for many years ”.
Isak. “We have seen what it is capable of. He has great qualities and apart from what he gives us on the pitch, he also gives us a lot in the dressing room. It seems that she is withdrawn and quiet, but she is a happy person and with many jokes. Many people would be surprised. He's a very easy going guy, but he's always there to strike out.
Ødegaard. “Knowing him has the ability to succeed at Real Madrid, but many things have to be done. And the situation of how he started his return upset him a bit, because he felt comfortable in Donostia and that people loved him, and his departure was a bit strange for him. He wanted to have the year he had and continue with that feeling with us at La Real, and he needed it. But the change at the last minute and all the complications in Madrid did not help him ”.