Edgar Badia (Barcelona, February 12, 1992) is making his debut with Elche in the First Division after a career between Second B and Second. This Sunday they face Barça in the match that closes the first round. He is living his best moment as a professional, but he knows that football is only a part of his life.
Edgar Badia Guardiola. Any connection to the City coach?
[Riu] No, it’s pure coincidence. Now Pep is admirable, the best coach. I like the game he plays and I think he is one of the most influential people in the world of football.
With Guardiola you have no ties. On the other hand, you do have it with Cornellà, where you trained as a footballer. I imagine you vibrated with the Cup match.
What is happening to Cornellà is a cause for joy. They have been trying to make the leap to professional football for years and against Barça they forced an overtime. They do a great job and have a lot of merit.
Have you already congratulated Ramón Juan for the two penalties he stopped?
I haven’t congratulated him, but I take the opportunity to do so. Cornellà works the goal very well and it shows. Ramon is proving, not now but for a long time, that he can reach the elite. We are short and agile goalkeepers. We are quite similar in this regard.
Have you studied Barça’s penalties in case you get shot?
I study everything. I try to be proactive, prevent situations, know what game patterns the opposing team has. Penalties are also part of this study. This year I have shot five. One I stopped Fekir, another went out and the other three ended up in goal.
Did you suffer the rise against last season’s forecast?
We only had nine days off after going up and it was hard for me to assimilate what we had done. But now, after a lap, I feel like a Primera player. I had been waiting for it for a long time and now I just want it to last many years. The first goal is to stay with Elche.
From the outside, it was hard to understand Pacheta’s dismissal despite the promotion.
They decided so from the club and the locker room had to fit it. We thank Pacheta for all the work she did with us. It was a motivating, competitive profile. But Almirón arrived, who had a great curriculum in South American football. He’s one of those coaches who wants to play offensive football and works to get players to interpret the circumstances of the game.
How are you doing in your first year at Primera? What are the differences with the football you knew so far?
It is true that in the First Division you play against some of the best players in the world, but in practice there are not so many differences with the Second Division, where there are historic clubs with great footballers and a very high level in general.
Statistics say you are the most involved goalkeeper in the League.
These are figures that denote that I am individually in a good time. But this is a team sport and the team’s goal is salvation. Being the goalkeeper with the most stops is secondary.
Take 12 days without a win and go around the relegation zone. Is it time to react?
Yes, but the truth is that we always compete. We faced Atlético at Wanda and got very deserved draws against Madrid and Villarreal. If we improve certain details and have a little more verticality, we will win again. However, it is also true that we are a team with many newcomers in the category. After an adaptation lap, we’re sure we’ll get better from now on.
You won’t say that Nino has no experience in the League … How does he continue to play at 40?
He is a great professional. He keeps the excitement in every workout and never wants to lose. He will have to decide if he wants to stay another year.
How will you try to beat Barça?
Not conceding spaces, not making mistakes in defense, taking advantage of the opportunities we have … We don’t have to give anything away! We always want to have the ball, but we know that Barça will take it from us during many phases of the match.
Is Barça the worst in recent times?
I don’t know if Barça is the worst, but what is undeniable is that the League is more even than ever.
A Barça without Messi. Better, right?
I do not know. Without him, Barça will play differently. When he is on the field, he centralizes the game. When it’s not there, things change. Either way, we’ll try to win all three points, which is what it’s all about.
You have started the course so well that there are even some who ask Luis Enrique to call you the absolute.
It’s always nice for them to speak well of you, but selection is another level. Those who went there spent many years in Primera. My short-term goals are more modest.
How are you doing with the pandemic?
Pretty good, as far as possible. I try to distract myself outside of football and I also spend a lot of time preparing for matches. But I haven’t seen the family in a long time. The situation becomes very serious. I relate very little outside the locker room and home. I don’t want to miss any matches. For Christmas we stayed in Elche and only related to another couple. That’s what I had to do to minimize risks. And that’s what everyone should do. Here in Elche and throughout the Valencian Country things are pretty bad.
How do you go about getting a PCR every few days?
You get used to it. I already have a hard nose [riu].
You are a footballer and an entrepreneur.
I am very restless. I always say that when I retire I want to continue to feel useful. Football is just one more stage in life. For a few years now I have been a partner in a goalkeeper glove company called TwoFive. I take it with Tomeu Nadal, Albacete goalkeeper. We both know what needs these types of gloves should meet. And at an affordable price: the most expensive are worth 60 euros. It’s a way to bring something more to people. In this regard, I have also helped open a couple of Healthy Hunters franchises in Albacete and Manacor. We prepare healthy bowls. I’ve always been very concerned about eating well. I avoid ultra-processed foods and try to eat as much vegetarian as possible.
You are also a die-hard reader.
Yes. I recommend three recent readings: Shoe dog, about the founder of Nike; There is nothing so terrible, by Rafael Santandreu, i The universe in your hand, by Christophe Galfard.
And of series, what do you like?
Peaky blinders.
You couldn’t tell, seeing how you combed your hair …
[Riu] Yes, I know. I like the British roll of that time.
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