Joseph Luis Garcia Vayá (Denia, 1998), known as Ashes In the world of football, he has gone through a real odyssey to live his dream: playing with Levante in the First Division. Practically out of the team last summer, the midfielder, who debuted in 2015 with the first team, at the age of 17, he had to wait until 2021 to experience his debut in the elite with the Blaugrana shirt, already 23. Six years in which everything has happened. However, and despite end contract next June 30, he wants to enjoy his chance. “I honestly don’t think much that I finished a contract in June, now is the time to think about the team,” he reflects for AS. Later it will be seen.
What an afternoon on Saturday. His first big game as granota on the grass of the Ciutat?
The truth is, the first on the field. The team needed him a lot. The fans too. The communion that was created between the team and the fans is something incredible to experience. I think it is a plus that we are going to have for the end of the season.
What goes through your head at the moment of the penalty?
The truth is that the negative thought came to me a bit. In the end, after winning, when the penalty is awarded … a thousand things come to mind. But from the moment Aitor saved the penalty, I knew it was the day we were going to win and, luckily, although many more things happened, we took the first.
They put an end to the worst streak without winning in Primera’s history. How have they experienced this situation from within?
Well, it is a very complicated situation, I am not going to deceive you. Like it or not, when you are week after week without being able to win, they become very long. The locker room was screwed up. In the end we are people and it affects a lot. But I think we have been quite strong. We could have experienced worse situations, which we have not experienced, and luckily the victory has arrived, which I think gives us a lot more morale and reaction capacity. There were many teams that thought that Levante was finished and that is not the case.
What explanation does it have?
I think that in the end it is already a mental problem. At the level of the game, there have been games that we have deserved more, others less, but in the final minutes a week, another week escaped you … It is true that there are games that we have not been well. But above all, especially in the last games, the problem was already mental.
What part of the fault does Alessio have?
I believe that with Alessio we have recovered the spirit with which he comes. He comes with the strength to go up from the subsidiary, with great enthusiasm and I think that he has transmitted it to the group. And above all also because of his idea of the game, because in the end he wanted to recover the best that we have: play with the ball, have joy, be a vertical team that generates many chances. I believe that it is what is best for us and what can give us the most results.
The key, in the end, has been to close the goal.
In the end that is going to be key for the end of the season, that we close the goal. We know we have a lot of gunpowder upstairs. Many First Class teams would like to have the players that we have at the top and the quality that is in our team. But in the end I think that if we get a little stronger behind, we will get out of there.
Can you believe in salvation?
After this victory things look different. It’s a rush. I think the fans have to feel the same as us. The illusion of seeing that it is possible. There are 18 games left and I think that in the end many teams did not expect that we could go up. That may be our drive. Go winning and see that it is possible. Every week to be closer. Because in the end we came from the well. We cannot be lower. We couldn’t be worse. I think that victory will give us a lot of morale.
It was important to reconnect with people after what happened in Vila-real.
Yes, I was watching it from the inside, the last five or six minutes that I was out, I saw the people, I turned to the stands and I saw the emotion and the feeling that I was very close. I think that communion with the stands is one of the most important things we have to have in these games that remain at home. They feel part of us and we have to show it to them.
You have spoken of the force of coming from below. Since his debut in 2015 with the first team, until his debut in First in 2021, it has rained a lot. How have you lived this process?
Well, the truth is that it has been a long process. Young man (17 years old) I made my debut in the Copa del Rey, but there have been many circumstances that have led to my final debut in the League in 2021 (23 years old). In the end, I believe that football has different processes, some shorter and others longer, and I have had to experience this. I am proud to have lived through this process, to have had to go to Portugal for two years. I think I grew up in what I lacked in football and personal maturity, although there is still much left. I finished polishing myself to be prepared and be able to play for Levante.
In summer he was about to leave the Levant; in fact, they make him token the last day of the market. It is part of the odyssey he has lived to debut in the first team, his illusion since he was a child.
I have always said that my dream was to play for Levante in the First Division. Yes, there were various circumstances in the preseason, knowing the situation of our team, with many players, especially in my position … In the end it happened like that. I was working to stay. Luckily, since the market closed, Paco López told me that I was one of the staff and by working I got my chance.
With Paco López, in the final stage, he was already beginning to appear in the eleven.
Yes, I am at the end I am very proud of that. Because of my situation, it has cost me a lot. When you can already enjoy it, because at first it cost, but with Paco there was a point that every weekend I put on and thought: this opportunity, after what it has cost me, I could not let it pass.
The change comes with Alessio, who also trusts you in the pivot position, a situation that favors his football.
Yes, in the end Alessio has known me for a long time. I met him in the lower categories. And the truth is that since I’ve been in professional football, which have been my two assignments in Portugal, I have always played in that position (pivot). I am comfortable where I put myself, but it is true that Alessio sees me there. I’m improving with him, especially with individual videos, keep progressing, and I think he will make me a better player. I also think I can contribute a lot to the team from there.
“He is not fast, nor is he strong … all those measurements that we do with so many machines that we have, that does not enter into any measurement. You never sign it. But he is a footballer, he is smart, he chooses well …”, said Mendilibar about Cucurella. Do you feel identified?
A little identified yes that I can feel. In the end I love being a player for the team. I don’t like to play for Pepelu. I try to help the team as much as possible. I think those are the good players. Those that do not appear in many registers, but when the team is not there it is quite necessary.
Pepelu poses for AS in the bowels of the City of Valencia.
ALBERTO IRANZO (DIARY AS)
From January 1, he is free to negotiate with any team (contract ends on June 30, 2022). How do you live that situation?
The truth is that, I’m honest, I live it as my personality is: calmly. Today I am where I wanted to be, which is in Levante. I honestly don’t think much that I finished my contract in June, now is the time to think about the team. The most important thing is that Levante is in the First Division and from there we will be able to decide my future.
His performances put him on the market. Assessing everything that happened, do you contemplate continuing, regardless of the category, in First or Second?
I believe that in football there are many situations. What has happened can no longer be changed. I focus on the present. But it is true that now is not the time to decide if Levante is in one place or another. In the end I am from Levante, and what I feel is that I want the team to be in the First Division. From there, the scenarios that have to be opened will be opened.
Pepelu, Cárdenas, Cantero, Blesa … They represent the next generation. Do you feel that way?
Yes, let’s see, if I tell you about my case, I think it’s special. To be honest. I really notice the affection that the fans have for me. At the end of the day, whether you like it or not, you get all kinds of messages, when I leave the stadium … for me it is a pride. But it is true that we are now in the first team Cárdenas, Cantero, Blesa … Marc, who is on the rise. I think it is important that Levante and the fans feel represented by people from the house. In the end I think it gives an identity to the team and the people who come up from the bottom are excited to learn, to do things well, and that is an extra energy for all the players.
I understand the warmth that people give it helps when making decisions.
Yeah sure it helps. What I was telling you, playing here, every time I go to the stadium, feeling the affection of the people … that is priceless. We’ll see what happens, but I can only thank the fans for how they are behaving with me.
At the future level, heart or head?
Well, honestly, like all the decisions I make. Coldly you have to take a little heart and a little head. There are many situations that will dictate to decide one thing or another. But whatever has to happen, it will be the right decision.