Port (Beniel, 1992) does not lose an iota of his caste and ambition or smile in the most complicated of his three campaigns at Real Sociedad. With zero league goals and fewer chances than in his two previous campaigns, he breaks his silence at MD to expose his emotions and challenges.
How are you?
Very good. I have not had the continuity of other years, but on a mental level, very well. I haven’t missed a single day of training. You have to be prepared and help in any way you can.
Despite everything, we see him in the photos -the last ones from Wednesday’s training- smiling, joking…
Of course. The good atmosphere there is something very important, it has been the key to the success of the Real. I’ve been here for three years, the block is the same and we know each other perfectly. After losing, our mentality is clear: the next day the sun always rises. We always think positive.
Has this had to be applied at the individual level?
It is true that it is an atypical situation for me. I am not having the continuity of previous years and you have to find the formula to stay plugged in and compete. When everything is going well for you, you just have to enjoy it and continue. And when these tougher moments come, you have to do a lot of mental work, head on. I am genetically competitive, I want to always be on the pitch, I want to play every game, every minute. This mental work is making me a better footballer and a better person.
Have you had to resort to professionals?
Nerd. Here we have coach Imanol Ibarrondo. He is specialized, he lives day by day with us, he talks to everyone and gives us the perception of him. He gives us a point of view that we do not see, for example, when we are angry. He helps a lot.
Have you had any bad moments? Have you felt frustrated or sad?
Nerd. Not at that level. We must consider that it is a success to bring together so many competitive people in a team in which everyone wants to play. Soccer is like that. We all want to play every minute, give our best level, score the best goals and make the best saves, because that helps to help the team, which is what’s important.
Why did you say that this is being the most enriching season on a mental level?
For me it is being an atypical season, because I have no continuity. At other times you don’t stop to think if you’re sad or not, you just enjoy the journey, on the field, always playing, reaching numbers. You don’t think you should give more, demand more of yourself, work more. There are times when you want to help, be there and be important and you have to manage that so you don’t get frustrated or angry. After not playing, what I do is train hard on Monday with those who haven’t played, wait for my moment and my opportunity. I’m still on my own, focused. When the thing works, the equipment is not usually touched and there is no need to give it more thought.
Are we facing the same old Portu?
Of course I’m the same old Portu, stronger mentally. I had not experienced this situation before, but that makes you better on a professional level. You give value to what you did not give before. It helps you deal with many situations on and off the field. Everything happens for a reason and what you have to do is improve and be more competitive.
We have seen that the goals fell from his pockets and this year he is zero in the League, why?
There are times when the ball does not want to enter. Sometimes you don’t explain how you put it in or the ball falls to you just to push it and from there you start a positive streak. I have had opportunities that have gone by very little, to the post, the goalkeeper has stopped it… These are moments that must be passed. It is important to face those moments. That makes you better. I’m not obsessed at all. They are not entering, but when one enters, many more will enter me.
Have you seen yourself scoring goals?
Yes, of course and celebrating with the Aitor Zabaleta stands, just the way I like it. But I’m not obsessed because I’m still a wing player, I’m not a center forward, far from it. A lot is required of us because we have set a very high level competitively, in games and in goals. No value is given to what we are achieving, two consecutive years in Europe, passing the group stage, which is not easy, competing in all the games, at the top since matchday 1, hopefully until the last one. We are wing players and we have to close the wing, put in crosses…Of course we would like to score 9,10, 11 goals every season, but it is something that is not valued and it is extraordinary.
You didn’t play a single minute at the Bernabéu for the first time in the league, what did you feel?
It almost never happened to me. We are many and the squad is very competitive. He had played on Wednesday in Mallorca and it was not easy. I had to help in another way and support my partner.
What do people say to you on the street?
With them always very good. I have not experienced any bad situation. Everyone cheers me on. People are aware that we have had three very good years. We have enjoyed a lot together and we will continue to do so. People are with me to ful. He only sends me words of support and encouragement.
When you came to Real, you wanted half the League, at some point have you considered looking for alternatives to play less?
The day to day absorbs you. Stuck in so many competitions as up to now, it doesn’t give you to think further. With so much competition, we spend more time with the team than at home. And you have to focus on the day to day. If you don’t, you’re wrong. I don’t look beyond tomorrow’s training and Sunday’s game. No, I have not thought beyond the Royal.
Does it condition you that you can leave Januzaj?
No. Everyone has their circumstances, their contractual situation, their thoughts and their goals. I signed five years here because the president, Olabe and Imanol transmitted the project to me and I am very happy because everything they told me has been fulfilled. We have played in Europe, we have won the Cup, we have gained experience and we play great football, very colorful, which we forwards like.
Do you see yourself fulfilling your five-year contract?
Without any problem. This is football and you can’t put your hand in the fire for anything, but everything that was promised to me is being fulfilled here.
What does Imanol tell you?
Imanol wants more than me to score a goal. We already know how he is. He is happy for you when something good happens to you. We’ve been three years and we all love each other. Surely he would like me to have 15 goals and play every minute. We’re a team. I’m very happy for Mat (Ryan) or Álex (Remiro) when they keep a clean sheet or when Isak scores three goals, or when Oyarzabal scores….I like to see people happy.
There’s Silva, Monreal… but he’s already one of the ‘grandparents’ of the squad, how are you doing?
The first time I got here, the president said to me, “What’s up, veteran?” And he was 27 years old. We are very lucky to have Nacho, David and to have had Zurutuza and ‘Moyaka’. They are top people who have experienced matches of all kinds, who have played Champions Leagues, who have even won a World Cup. It is lucky to learn from them. If they have achieved all this, it is because of their gift of playing football and their mental strength. I am fulfilling years and experiences. I’m making my way and so many games here, the final, Europe, have enriched me.
Has the fact of wanting to be safer at the back reduced your potential in attack?
I do not think so. She has nothing to do with it. The defensive level has been good in these three years. We have improved because we do a brutal job. Are moments. In previous years we earned more comfortably, it is true, but this year it is costing more. But we won almost the same matches. And we’re still up there, which is the important thing. I prefer to be like this, so close to the Champions League, than to have 20 more goals. He speaks highly of the team.
How do you see the European fight this year?
We all know that the fight is going to be until the last moment, like these last two years. What we have achieved is not easy. We would like to continue playing Cup and European games, but now that the weeks are clean we can take advantage of it and go all out in these 11 games.
The first is that of Alavés on Sunday, with Anoeta at 100% at last, are you happy?
If much. We wanted to see Anoeta at 100%, that also means that this pandemic is more controlled, ending. It is a joy for everyone. It’s like everything, we easily forget what has happened. We have all had a hard time, we have lost loved ones and we can now live a half normal life. Anoeta is going to squeeze, that fund is going to be full, we notice it even with 60 and 80%. I’m sure you’re going to live in a nice, nice atmosphere.