Reguilón: “I look at Mou and I think we're going to win something yes or yes”

Sergio Reguilón (Madrid, 1996) has become in a few months a fundamental pillar for Mourinho at Tottenham. Real Madrid transferred him for 30 million last summer (with a buyback option of 40) after his good season at Sevilla. His great performance in the Premier has helped him to also consolidate in the National Team with Luis Enrique. Reguilón attends AS telematically from London.

How were your first months at Tottenham? Did you expect to adapt so quickly?

They have also been difficult because of the COVID issue, because I couldn't have my family close to help me with things. I'm adapting little by little to the weather and especially to the food here, which is a little different …

Why? Do you eat worse?

I can't quite get a taste of English food. They always send me my hams and my things from Spain, the other day they sent me a box of fabada so imagine …

How's the language going? There are many wardrobe mates who speak Spanish …

Yes, but I try to talk to everyone. I am teaching English and I like to practice it. They still understand me as an Indian, but I speak it, I know they understand me and it is the first step.

What are you talking about with Mourinho?

When I speak with him individually we speak in Spanish, but when we talk about country matters with everyone, in English.

This summer it had offers from clubs that play the Champions League, but Tottenham occasionally this season does not dispute it. What convinced you to choose it?

There are many circumstances. I could not say one in particular because it is an accumulation of things. The perspective of playing for me was very important, because at my age I have to grow and add minutes. I have always said that I wanted to play some time in my life in the Premier and I had also said that I wanted Mourinho to coach me in my career. Many factors were brought together to make this possible.

How does Mourinho convince you? Did he call you personally?

He called me several times before making the decision. It was a reason to take into account his insistence, because if he loved me so much it would be for something.

Is it as special as they say?

(Laughs) I always say the same thing: I would like you to know him the way I know him. I could tell a thousand wonderful anecdotes …

Dare to tell some …

For example on Christmas day, who knows that I am alone. We got to training on the 25th at 3 and I had a box on my site. I open it and it was a suckling pig already cooked. He told me “I know you are alone at Christmas so you don't have to cook dinner and eat well.” It has details that people don't know on a day-to-day basis, but for a footballer who is aware of how you are apart from football is very important.

Isn't that reputation for being tough then justified?

Let's see … When it has to be hard, it's hard like anyone else. But he is a person who cares a lot about everyone.

His two current coaches are Mourinho and Luis Enrique. How are they alike and how are they different?

For me Mourinho and Luis Enrique are two top coaches. Each one has his method, each teacher has his booklet. Luis Enrique likes more to be in control of the ball, more to the Spanish philosophy of taking care of the ball. Mourinho likes that we are strong, that we also have the ball of course, but they are different ways of training. But in their measure they are top each.

All the players also speak wonders of Luis Enrique in personal treatment …

Luis Enrique's talks … (laughs) they seem wonderful to me. As he says “and gives them free”, because he should have charged us. I even have a good time seeing how he teaches, corrects, the way he speaks. He speaks like a footballer, in the same style as us and with the same jargon. It shows a lot and is very close in that sense.

He has had three different coaches in three years at club level: Zidane, Lopetegui and Mourinho. Are they as different as they appear from the outside?

They look like what they project. They are three great coaches, but each one has his way of working.

Does having been with such different coaches help you grow?

You have to adapt to each coach, to what he asks of you. I always say that you can get the positive from each coach. It is my third year as a professional and I don't even know how many coaches I have been. Positive things come out of each one.

Let's go back to Tottenham. They fight to win the Premier, despite the fact that in recent years Spurs have rarely seen themselves fighting for the Premier. Does having Mourinho, who has won everything, give you confidence when the key moments come?

I saw, I don't know where, that in his second year Mourinho has won a title in all the teams he has been in. I personally look at him, I see that confidence he has in himself and I say “we are going to win something yes or yes”. We are going to have to win something. With that mentality things are done. You cannot think that by history we have won or not.

How is Mourinho at the coach level? Blackboard or motivational?

It has everything, a mix.

Let's talk about another old acquaintance for Madrid. How is your personal relationship with Bale?

I talk a lot with Bale. I already did it in Madrid and here too. I have him sitting next to me. We tell each other everything. It helped me a lot when I arrived here in the areas to live, the restaurants, the people who can help you …

Do they speak in Spanish?

In Spanish and English. He speaks Spanish well, a bit like an Indian, but I understand him.

Are you surprised that he is not a starter?

He comes dragging some annoyance and little by little he is adapting again to the rhythm of the Premier. He came from a difficult year, but we all know the quality he has and that he will be a super important uncle for us.

Let's go back to its roots. Do you think that in the future you will play for Real Madrid again, at some point in your career?

I dont know. Whenever they ask me about Madrid, I say that it has given me everything, it has always been my home. Come back one day? It doesn't depend on me… I'm focused on my thing, but it would be nice.

Did you speak to Zidane before going to Tottenham?

No, nothing.

Did it hurt or surprise you that it didn't?

No, nothing surprised me.

In recent years many homegrown players have left Madrid. Achraf, Óscar, Mayoral… Why is it taking so long to get a place in the first team?

In Madrid it is very difficult to arrive and stay as well. The youth players to get to the top have to do a series of things and it is very difficult to stay as a youth squad. You have to fight and be lucky. But it has been seen that Madrid works very well at the quarry because it has high-level footballers in the big teams. That speaks very well of the way it works there.

With regard to the Spanish National Team… Do you dream of being in that European Championship?

Yes, for me it would be a dream. I work and fight to be there. Hopefully the coach continues to take me as in the last calls. Hopefully we continue in that line because there is a good group and great things can be done.

There are also Games this summer. You by age should be one of the exceptions, but it is your generation. In fact, you played in the qualifying phase for that U21 Euro Cup… Would you be excited if De la Fuente calls you?

Whenever the National Team calls me, I will go wherever, wherever necessary. Of course.

Are you surprised that Ramos has not renewed with Madrid?

I think that in the end it will end up being solved. Both for Madrid and Sergio. Seen from the outside, I don't see a Madrid without Ramos.

Wouldn't you send a message to Ramos to convince him to go to Tottenham?

(Laughs) He wouldn't pay much attention to me!

If he asks you for advice on going to Tottenham … Would you tell him to go?

Yes of course. In fact the other day I was talking to him. Churu is much Churu …

Do you keep in touch with many Madrid teammates?

Yes, I talk to quite a few.

And what about Sevilla? Do you follow it?

Yes, quite. I have very good friends there and a very good relationship with many. Every week I talk to one or the other …

Personally, both you and your partner are a networking phenomenon. He is also 'gamer'… Is this going to be more and more common among footballers?

The quarantine did a lot too… We all let go of the 'gamer' vein we had there, we showed it to the world. As long as you are doing well in your work, which is football, I think you can do those things live, play … Of course, as soon as you lose a game they tell you that's why. That's why I no longer do live shows, lest they throw me off and tell me I don't play well because of that (laughs).

Finally … What do you ask of 2021?

Especially good health, because it is being very complicated. The rest, whatever it has to be, but I want health for everyone.