Pablo Franco: “Al Qadsia is Real Madrid of Kuwait”

After three years without assuming the reins of a team, Paul Frank (Madrid, 1980) agreed to go to Kuwait to take command of the historic Al Qadsia. The Madrilenian, who led Getafe, passed through Georgia and China and served as Julen Lopetegui's assistant at Real Madrid before starting his Asian adventure, will experience the return of the Kuwaiti competition from a distance: “Kuwait included Spain in the list from banned countries and we couldn't travel. ” While awaiting his return to the Mohammed Al-Hamad stadium, Pablo Franco reviews how he is living an adventure that he shares with David Dóniga (assistant), Alejandro Caro (physical trainer) and Jacobo Sanz (goalkeeping coach).

You have not been able to travel to Kuwait and the league resumes this weekend, do you hope to be able to coach the team from a distance?

We hoped to fly on August 1, but Kuwait included Spain in the list of banned countries and we stayed at Madrid airport. We have been training through the internet. They relay it to us and we make calls when we need to explain or modify something. We will try to do something similar in the match. You have to adapt.

What is the football situation in Kuwait?

The Federation Cup was suspended and the Emir Cup, in which we are in the quarterfinals, is scheduled to resume in September. As for the league, the idea is to finish the remaining four league days. The problem is that the rules have changed. In the rest of the world, competitions have either been resumed or are over. In Kuwait it will return, but without decreases. That lowers the motivation of many teams. The only thing at stake is the title, which we and Al Kuwait are contesting. They go ahead and that places us as great losers. If I were the coach of any of the teams that no longer play anything, I would use the rest of the days as preseason.

In Kuwait it is easy for temperatures to exceed 40 degrees, what is it like to live in hell?

Last year Kuwait recorded the highest temperature on the planet in inhabited areas. I think it was over 53 degrees. On average we have between 45 and 47 in the month of August, but the problem is not the temperature, but the thermal sensation. It is a windy area and you live as if you have an air fan blazing continuously in your face. It burns and drowns you. What we do is train in the afternoon, when there is no longer sunlight. It's still very hot, but it's the only way to handle it.

Have you had to adapt the pace of your training sessions due to the weather conditions?

As for the rhythm, I have tried to adapt little because I understand that what we do is what is necessary. I did not want to lower the level of demand, although many of the players do not arrive most of the time. Then you eliminate some series or the repetition of some exercise because you see that there is no quality and the risk of injury appears. Through what we are observing and the data that the GPS gives us live we are adapting the training. What we have had to adapt to is culture. It is essential to understand their schedules, their customs … Their mentality is totally different from ours.

What's the weirdest thing that happened to you in Kuwait?

Keep in mind that it is a society that lives at night. They are used to getting up at six or seven in the afternoon. I got calls from the board at four in the morning. For them it is normal, they meet at that time. I, who have a more European schedule, get to work at the sports city at nine. And there is absolutely no one. And when I go to eat there is still no one. Another characteristic of the Arabs is that they are very vain. They offer you a player, you tell them you don't fit in and the next day you have him signed up. The president has seen a video of 'highlights' with his friends and tells you that this is the one who has to come. Here those things are normal.

Why Kuwait?

I hadn't worked as a coach for three years and it seemed like an interesting option. The club gave me the opportunity to fight to win titles and that motivates anyone. Raising trophies is very complicated, few coaches in the world can boast of fighting to win every weekend in a top flight. Kuwait dominates the country's football and has many players that we can't even dream of, but we understood that with our work we could bridge the gap. That was what made me decide on Al Qadsia. In the future we will try to make the leap to a more professional context. There has already been interest from Saudi Arabia, but the coronavirus complicated everything. What I would like to do is go back to Spain. Now it is very difficult because the profile of the former footballer is sought, but it is my main objective.

He went from working at Real Madrid to directing Al Qadsia …

It's a big change, but Al Qadsia, saving the distance, is Real Madrid from Kuwait. Right now we have Al Kuwait above us, who has spent an impressive amount of money. His investment could be compared to that of Manchester City, which has led him to dominate the country's football in recent years. But we keep the spirit, at the fan level we are the best team in Kuwait and at the title level we are still the most awarded in history. The facilities have nothing to do with Valdevebas and the organization cannot be compared to that of Real Madrid, but you can feel the history and that added pressure to win and do it, in addition, playing football well. It's what I like the most about the club: it's important that we play football well.

Kuwait is a coach shredder and you were renewed for two more years, do you feel lucky?

Of course. The renovation highlights the work we have done at Al Qadsia. Al Kuwait, who is leading, have already had three coaches this season. In Kuwait one day you tie and the next you are on the street. They have a knack for firing coaches and that is why I value so much that they continue to trust us. It is very difficult to be successful in such different contexts and we have succeeded. We have always had the approval of players, managers and public opinion. We have felt comfortable and we feel that winning the Super Cup is not enough. We want to get more titles for the club.

I suppose you are aware of everything Lopetegui is achieving in Seville.

Clear. I like to follow all the teammates I have worked with and more if they make me enjoy myself, as is the case with Sevilla de Lopetegui. Everything the team has proposed this season is very similar to the football that I like. In Kuwait I have always made time to see Sevilla. I already said it a year ago, Lopetegui is a coach with capital letters. I said that if they were patient and allowed him to build his project, he would be successful, so it doesn't surprise me that he finished fourth in La Liga and is in the Europa League final. His methodology is brilliant and his adaptability is magnificent. I admire his personality and the courage he has when making decisions. The semifinal against Manchester United was won by him from the bench. I think he is one of the most complete coaches in the world.

What a shame his premature departure from the national team and Real Madrid …

His departure from the national team meant nipping at the roots a stage in which he had not lost a game in two years. They are major words. The numbers were exceptional and the team played football very well. He was very confident in his possibilities. They gave off hope and good vibes. Like everyone else, it gave me the feeling that the opportunity to do something great was lost. With Julen on the bench, Spain would have achieved some success. In Madrid the processes are shortened. The pressure for short-term results is tremendous. We were doing a spectacular job and I think if the process had dragged on the team would have ended up playing a great role in all competitions. There was an obvious lack of effectiveness and at a club like Real Madrid you can't afford that luxury.

What do you expect from the final between Sevilla and Inter?

I think it will be a very open game. They are the two best teams in the competition. I really want to see him because he has all the ingredients to make us enjoy: two great teams, great individuals and two great strategists on the bench. It is going to be a spectacular final with a very high pace. Soccer lovers are going to enjoy it a lot.