Unai Vencedor (Bilbao, 20 years old) forms a solid couple with Dani García in Marcelino's core. Athletic has a sounded premiere at home tomorrow, against Barça. With the return of the people to San Mamés, double incentive. The Bilbao midfielder is the last pearl of Lezama that has established himself as a starter.
I asked Iñaki Williams this week about his brother Nico, who has come to stay in Athletic's first team, if the hardest thing has already happened, put his feet in First, and now comes the easy thing. I am transferring it to you.
The most difficult thing is yet to come, is to stay. As I always say, daily work is what leads you to achieve personal and collective goals, it is only worth what you can help the team at all times.
Does he look like a starter, an established and mature player?
Not much less. I work to be in that eleven that you say every week, giving the maximum every day, but you don't feel it, you earn it.
How has the cheeky winner of Santutxu and the subsidiary changed to the current one?
I am the same footballer as always. Of course, you are soaking up the tactical aspects that the different coaches instill in you and evolving.
Was this what you had in your head as a child?
Yes. Little by little the dreams I had of reaching the First Division at Athletic are coming true and I am very excited.
In his neighborhood of Rekalde he will be quite a personality.
No, I am still the same as always, I do not detach myself from my people, on which I base my behavior and my life.
A date: February 16, 2020. What does it tell you?
The date of my debut with Athletic, as if to forget it… I saw that I was not going with Bilbao Athletic and it was feasible to make my debut. From the day before I knew it and at first I was a little nervous, but as the game progressed, I was doing what I know.
How do you remember that day?
Well, like a very happy, very beautiful, unforgettable day. I imagined that day thousands of times, almost every Sunday, it was a dream come true. Then I had the fault that I almost scored. At first I did not dare to be my debut, but they encouraged me to throw it away. The only pity is that we lost against Osasuna.
The truth is that that game did not count again for Garitano that season, but he did not want to leave, he insisted and went back to fighting next year.
I've always wanted to stay here and every day I try to do my best to stay at Athletic. That always. I have already said other times that I have been a fan of Athletic since I was born, here I am at home.
That premiere was with people, a privilege with what has happened a year and a half later.
That's true. I made my debut in the penultimate match with the public in San Mamés and it's not that it fills you up any more, but it was an incredible incentive and I'm really looking forward to our people returning to the field this weekend. It is very different to be with the fans taking us on the fly to have San Mamés in silence.
What would you say to the people who signed up for this game and are going to meet the team again?
We do not have to give them any message, we know that they will come with all the desire in the world, as always, and we will be the same, we will go for victory and they will be very helpful.
And this special day comes with the visit of a whole Barça.
It's a great game, we all like to play and see these kinds of commitments.
Are the two lost Cup finals, one against Barça, forgotten or is the wound still open?
There were many hopes, we were very excited about them, the truth is that yes, it was a very hard stick.
You will notice the benefit of having minutes and continuity.
Playing gives you confidence, that's true, but what helps you the most is what you do daily, the effort to tell for the coach.
What is the most satisfying thing for you about a field?
First of all, let the team win. And personally, play a good game, either with an assist leaving a teammate in a very good situation, scoring a goal and knowing that I have contributed everything I have.
When he has a loss in a key area that means a goal, the world is on top of him.
Nobody wants to fail, but this usually happens in football. When I make a mistake in a pass, which then derives on a clear occasion from the rival or is a goal, you get a hard stick. Worse, you have to raise your head, do not repeat it and continue forward.
Unai López is ruled out in his position. It is the law of football, in the future it can happen to you.
It's what you say, soccer, it can happen to anyone at any time, you have to get ahead. He is a good player.
Zarraga, for example, will squeeze him as soon as his guard drops somewhat.
It is clear, there is a very good competition. We all demand each other and that makes us better every day.
You will have Busquets in front of you, your reference.
It is a mirror in which I look at myself since I was little, I always say that. A player with a great career and a way of interpreting football that I love.
What would you say is your main virtue?
The agility in the pass, the determination.
He prefers to talk about the collective rather than about himself.
Yes it's true.
But what is your aspiration?
I go day by day working my best, whatever the future holds for me, welcome.
Messi is not coming this time …
He is the best footballer in the world, but Barcelona has plenty of players to supply him.
Will it lead PSG to win the Champions League?
A title like the Champions League is not won by a single player, even if this is Messi, but it will help them a lot, it gives them an even more favorites.