Aritz Elustondo (Beasain, 3-28-1994) has become in his own right one of the heavyweights in the locker room of the Real. Just turned 28, he has settled in the axis of the rear, in the season in which he has finally left behind his bad luck with injuries and is having the continuity that he has always deserved due to his level.
-Do you want the league to return?
Yes a lot. That Monday arrives, play in front of our fans, give them the three points against Espanyol. It is the first of the nine finals to meet the goal, which is currently in our hands.
-Did you miss this break after such a demanding schedule?
It is true that it was a difficult season, many games and little rest. And this break has been very good for us to clarify our ideas a little more, I have taken the opportunity to be with the family and I have psyched myself up to face this final stretch of the league in the best possible way.
-And how do you feel that the team has reached these last nine games?
I think we’re fine. It is true that everything was being very demanding, with many games during the week. We have been left out of two competitions in which we really wanted, but that is over. And now the only thing we have to focus on is the nine remaining games, because we are having a great season, but the notes come at the end of the season. And we will see in what position we finish and if we fulfill the objective of repeating in Europe. And we have to feel very proud of what has been done so far, but it remains to be finished.
-Well, the rivals are not going to make it easy to fulfill it…
It’s clear. We already knew that. Just as we were also clear that I was going to see positive and negative streaks, so much so that not long ago you were the ones who asked us if we could fight for the league with the big ones, and we already knew what was happening and we had our feet on the ground. It speaks highly of the team that we are fighting for those European positions for another year, it was the goal we had set for ourselves, and the team is going to fight for it until the end. There can be no doubt about that, and hopefully we can achieve it.
-If I tell you that you can repeat a record that only the Royal champion has achieved, what do you say?
On the one hand, if that is required of us, it is because people see us qualified for it, and we also set ourselves that goal at the beginning of the League. It has a lot of merit, that’s for sure.
-How do you deal with that pressure of having to live with the challenge of playing each Ali in Europe?
We have to have the pressure, this is the elite and the games are all very difficult. But we have a consolidated block, we know each other very well and we give a lot of value to what we are doing this season as well.
-How do you see Monday’s game against Espanyol?
Well, a difficult rival to return to the competition. They are doing the cokes well, but we will go out to win. At Anoeta we have achieved quite a few points, but it has only been a one goal difference. For me as a defender it is very good, but in these nine games that we have left it is a duty that we have, to be able to win by more goals if possible. But the main thing, of course, is to win.
-Better if RDT does not arrive?
Let’s see, we want to play against the best. And it is key in Espanyol. Hopefully he can play, and we’ll try to make sure he doesn’t have his best day and goes unnoticed.
-What about your partner Le Normand is not normal, he is indestructible!
It is spectacular. When he went up to the first team he was already called ‘The Iron Man’, because any blow that was given would remain the same and he would not complain. The growth that he has shown these years is wonderful, he teaches that work always pays off. He has played every minute in the league, and that says a lot about him. It’s a pleasure to have him by our side, he’s having a great season and the entire squad is very proud to have him in the dressing room.
-Well, something similar can be said about you, this year if you are having the continuity that you lacked until now, right?
Yes, I really wanted to be able to achieve a season like this, to be able to count almost all the games for the coach. Because he came from difficult seasons, from being separated from the team due to injuries and the truth is that I am very happy. It was time to have a year like this, I hope I never get injured again, because I love to enjoy myself with my teammates every day.
-Do you feel reflected in Pacheco and his arrival in the first team?
A little, sure. It also comes from below, but what he has done in recent days does not surprise me. He can tell you that he has started playing late, because when he has been given the opportunity, he has taken it. But he had been demonstrating his ability in Zubieta for some time, because he is the only left-handed center-back in the squad.
-They tell me that when Oyarzabal was injured, there was a silence in Zubieta that was even scary…
Yes Yes. It was impressive. And not just because it’s Mikel. That loss has hurt us a lot because no one was scared of such a serious injury. We got the worst news and it may have been one of the worst weeks since I’ve been in the first team, because I know him very well, he had been at an impressive level for a long time without missing a game, and it’s a shame because we all deserve to achieve Europe’s goal and dedicate it to him because we’re not going to have him on the pitch, but he’s sure to help us from outside.
-Can you convince Januzaj inside the locker room to stay at Real?
Let’s see, at the moment he’s a Real player and I’ve heard him say that he only thinks about Real. It is a club job to get him to stay, because we all want him not to go. Because he is performing better and better, and we all want him to continue here for many more years and for him to feel one more at home. The only thing we can do is support him and show him that we want him to remain one of us.