Santi Denia, U-19 coach, attends in a joint interview with AS, Onda Cero and Marca, just as Luis de la Fuente and Julen Guerrero did in previous weeks. In a relaxed, friendly talk, the technician reviews all current issues, especially those of the U19. The Eurocopa of the category, in which Spain will defend the title, has been postponed and still has no date. It has to be played, because it is qualifying for the U-20 World Cup next year.
Is it comforting to see training come back?
Sure, totally. See that in First and Second they start training, that there is a project in Second B … You see that everything is moving and is a reflection of what happens in society, everything is beginning to move a little and it is important for all Spaniards. We can watch soccer, even on TV, from Germany. And football fans are looking forward to it.
The U19s are at that point of making the leap to professional football. Is it at the age that the break can affect you the most?
It is a very beautiful age, those 18 years, on the verge of entering professional football. And not on the edge, some like Mollejo, Bryan, Barrenetxea … They have already started training. Some are in First, Second … And others are in Youth, to be more specific, those of Madrid and Barça. Those are no longer going to play and can go four to five months without competing. Theoretically, if everything goes well, in the absence of UEFA announcing dates, that Under-19 tournament will have to be in September, October or November. There is still time. But there is a difference between those who are going to play and those who are not going to see until we will see when. There is some concern, albeit in hopes of seeing what UEFA decides. We depend on sanitary criteria, but there may be time for a certain preseason and preparation.
In U19 there are some in First and others in Youth. Is this jump going to be noticed a lot in this generation?
That will be my job, bringing them all together. It is always so. Especially in U17 and U19, there is a lot of difference in competitive level. In Sub-17 you find some in Second B and others in provincial leagues, in Sub-19 you see people in First and others in Youth… Our job is to harmonize that so that at the time of the tournament there is no differences. I think there is time. Those players advance to senior and the preseason will begin with subsidiaries and first teams, at a more professional level. My job will be to follow up, see them play and train in those months of July and August.
Should we improve competitiveness in grassroots football?
It is our reality. The theme of the competition is a long-standing demand, that the Youth Honor Division be improved above all. We must make a stronger competition for those who do not make the jump to the subsidiary. I know that Molina and Francis have a concern and are working to improve it.
Santi Denia, during the interview.
How is that harmonized?
The first is the idea of the game. You have footballers from Madrid and Barcelona, where it is evident that it is more complicated to advance the process. With all due respect … Then you have players like Borja Sáinz del Alavés who is already in the first team. Barrenetxea, the same. Would they be in the first team in Madrid or Barça? You do not know. They have quality, but in Madrid or Barcelona it costs more. I like the profile of Madrid and Barça players but of course I would like them to be in a subsidiary already. Although it's a club decision. But I am an advocate of moving the process forward. The one who is good and you put him in a branch, you form him more. I am a great advocate of that.
Are you concerned about the case of Éric García? It was already difficult to take him to the last U19 and although he is still old and he wants to go, it is not easy …
I have a special affection for Éric. It is true that there are several aspects. One is the City. I think that the U-19 championship in which he was champion came in handy, they saw that they have a wonderful player. My responsibility and that of Francis is to bring the best. Calling them and then the negotiation is more a matter for Molina and Francis. And the other question is that now Éric is very important for Luis in the U21. And I'm talking about the U21 not to mention the Olympiad. My responsibility is to bring the best of 2001. Of course I would like to have Éric … And Ansu. But if Luis has a competition in the U21 and decides to call them … It is normal, I understand.
Shall we open the Ansu Fati melon?
No, no … wait! (laughs) There are others as well as Pedri. Luis de la Fuente is brave, he doesn't mind having Ansu, Pedri, Robert Navarro… You have to look at him when the time comes. It is clear that for Luis they are very important. They are more with the U21 than with the U19, it is a real fact because they have played more games there. When the time comes you will find out.
Ansu is the clear example that it is good to advance the processes?
The one who goes up has to throw the door and Ansu has thrown the door of Barcelona.
But then they sign Braithwaite …
I am a defender of the quarry, you do not know how. They are club decisions. I was raised in a quarry. In Albacete, then I entered with Amorrortu when I retired and had a good teacher. I have a quarry culture. In clubs they know that the cheapest thing is to invest in a quarry, I can give millions of examples. But they are decisions. Although Ansu's case is that he has broken the door down. And Éric in Spain would be playing in First Division.
Do you think that the important thing in young people is that they play even with assignments?
It would be good. To give an example … Sergio Gómez. He did not play in Dortmund and was transferred to Huesca. Those are the coaches' decisions. The same Guardiola says that if a central defender is injured he wants to have Éric. They are private evaluations. For us it is best that they play the maximum minutes. In Sub-19 minimum in Second B and in Sub-21 we look for First. Then there are particular cases. Éric does not play for City but he is dynamic first team. I bring? Well, I think Luis is going to bring it … In my case Bryan Gil. He is playing 10 minutes at Leganés. I bring? Well, there is another of that profile playing 90 minutes every week in Youth and you have to put it in the balance. A first team dynamic playing 10 minutes will come yes or yes. And I also love Bryan (laughs). We want them to play their best, but the more level the team has, the more complicated it is.
What problem is there with the plants in Spain?
I have my opinion. There are less and less top level centrals. First … Those who are ahead of the process are not usually back players, out of fear. In Under-19 sights and in First are Bryan, Borja Sáinz … Attack players. Who takes a risk with a central defender? It has to be something very spectacular as it happens with Éric. There is fear in the clubs and it is respectable. It is difficult to see that they advance the process to those of back to professional level. It already costs more there, and it is not a criticism of the clubs. Then the methodology in Spain is wonderful, I am going to see training for all the clubs in all categories. But what prevails, and seems perfect to me, is the ball, the offensive game. When they come with us it costs them the specific. Seeing a central defender now winning an aerial game is hard to see. It is difficult to work the specific. Position game, controls, passing lines prevail. We have that and we must enhance it. When they come, I choose that profile, technicians, to pass lines … Because in 70% or 80% we are going to be dominators and we want that. But the other 20%: a brand, an aerial game … That in the little time I have is what I focus on. It is what is going to give them that plus. As they are in Juveniles because they do not anticipate the process, they do not have that need to make a real marking to a meter, a real anticipation … So in the people behind we are having problems in general, in clubs and in the National Team. An example is Jon Pacheco at Real Sociedad, who have seen that he is a good profile and he would have played 30 games in the Real Sociedad branch. With Isma Casas he has played the same in the Second. They are particular cases, but in a Madrid or a Barça it would cost more.
When the U19 Euro Cup is played it will coincide with club competitions. Will you call everyone?
My responsibility is to call the best. Since I entered here ten years ago I was told that I had to choose the best. Then you enter into negotiations … It is true that from ten years to two or three years ago it was changed and now they want these tournaments to be on FIFA dates. I hope UEFA is looking for a FIFA date.
And the negotiation is also if they go to the Sub-21 or Sub-19 …
For going into detail of the last call. The conversation with Luis de la Fuente was to see what situation he had in attack by Ansu Fati. I needed it, that's it. He also empathizes with me because he had that problem when he was an U-19 coach. But I think it is positive to go to FIFA dates to avoid problems with the clubs.
Which player has surprised you the most in these ten years?
I have been right in some and in other cases thinking the same thing has not come… The first one I saw, which was my first generation, was Bellerín. I thought it was going to be the Barcelona side, yes or yes. In U-16 it was an airplane. Now Ferran … When you see him you think it will be level. Then I remember Álvaro Bustos, from Sporting, and he has had two crusaders. Or Ivan Sáez in Madrid, who was a central defender of the very best. And look, he has even left football. Sometimes you are right and sometimes you are wrong. In these cases it is not per head. Bustos was the injury, Iván was a sensational boy… That is why we have to tell them to be very very constant in order to be professionals.
You have taken out the name of Ferran… Do you recommend renovating?
He has grown up within that club, he loves him … Since I know him he is in that club, they have trained him … Then they are interests. They are negotiations at the highest level. I see him in Valencia and I can see him in a City, to give an example.
Or in Dortmund, to speak of one …
Yes, it is a team that bets on young people. He will have to reach an agreement with Valencia. He knows he can continue to grow at Valencia. If you make the decision not to renew, those are already top-level negotiations. It is very important for De la Fuente and very shortly possible for the Absolute. We will see its evolution.