Iñigo Lekue has been in Athletic's first team for six seasons. Enough time to have shared a dressing room with players whom he followed as a child and whom he has seen hang up their boots or change the scene. A strange mix of feelings.
You have already won two Super Cups with Athletic, also playing.
Who was going to tell me. There have been many years of title drought and now we are several colleagues who have been lucky enough to experience the two Super Cups. That you read two Super Cups in your record is the host.
Something comparable to a Cup?
I do not know if it is comparable or not, but the two Super Cups that we have are of immense merit. The first with the defeat of that Barça and the one this year, eliminating Madrid and Barça in three days, is a resounding success in terms of sport. I do not know if it is comparable to winning a Cup or not, but at the end of April we talked.
What do you know about Sabin Merino?
I went up with him, we agreed at Danok, we played for Basconia and Bilbao Athletic, he was my roommate in the concentrations … I know he is doing very well, that he is enjoying football in Madrid and of course I keep in touch.
Does it cost more to succeed in Athletic being from the house?
I don't know, I can't tell him. Can be. With the need to sign, sometimes it may be that abroad is valued more than at home. It depends on the magnifying glass with what you look at it. They are different paths that lead to the same place.
Aduriz, San José, Iturraspe, Susaeta, Rico, Beñat, Iraizoz … How have you experienced this generational change?
Right now for years at Athletic I will be among the five or six who have been in the first team for the longest time. It is a contradictory feeling. I have seen Gurpe, Itu, Sanjo, Beñat, Rico, Adu and Susa, among others, play as a fan and then I had to be his partner. A jump, a pride, a happiness. For the people here who are from Athletic, it is something that fills us a lot. The next step was to see how some retire, others leave and you stay. Contradictory. Happy to be able to live that, but all the farewells are sad and even more those of these people who have given so much to the club.
Are we talking about the Real?
When the game with Eibar is over.
By the way, is it related to Remiro?
With Alex since he left, the truth is that I haven't talked much.