Prudent in the face of the strength of the favorites, José Ignacio Prades you saw the ‘Warriors’ with sheep’s clothing knowing that they have inside a wolf that wants to bite in the world From home. Spain is one step behind the great powers, but it is also capable of achieving good results if it reaches its best level, such as the silver of 2019.
What feeling dominates in the group?
Above all illusion. There has been a lot of excitement about holding a World Cup here and doing it well. There is also responsibility and we want to enjoy it, so things will turn out better. If we follow our style and enjoy ourselves, there is a better chance that the result will be positive. You have to be brave, I don’t think there is fear of failure, people are prepared for everything that comes.
What has the team shown you in the preparation games?
A lot of involvement, effort and work. The group has beautifully represented all the values of our handball. I am very happy with the preparation. The team has understood what we want to instill and all that remains is for everything to flow and nothing or no one to hold us back.
“It is sweet to talk about medals, but we go with zero expectations. Not obsessing ourselves can take us to very beautiful heights”
At what point do they reach the World Cup?
The team arrives well, with good feelings and very good physical work. I think that the work of the entire coaching staff is going to be seen, everyone has perfectly fulfilled their role and the goal is to continue growing during the World Cup as well.
Minimum and maximum target?
I would not like talking about objectives to be a burden. Putting the focus on each game is what you have to pay attention to the most, going out focused on the court being faithful to our game. If we play with intensity and being respectful of work, this team is capable of beating anyone. The objective is to fight to get into the quarterfinals, it is what the team should be asked and everything that comes from there will be welcome.
The Spanish players, excited to play the World Cup at home
It is always sweet to talk about medals when a big date arrives. Do you see possible to win it?
We don’t talk about math and a thousand things can happen. It will not be because we do not want or ambition it. The first step is to have a good championship, to go game by game, if we are not obsessed with going further, that can take us to very beautiful heights. Prudence must be our predominant note every day. It is sweet to talk about medals, but our colleague Jorge Dueñas commented that it is very important to go with zero expectations and I think he is very right. We face everything with zero expectations so that the day we continue to move forward we will not have to do anything different.
Can Spain look any power face to face?
It is difficult, we need to be very well, at 120% of our possibilities, just as when we are bad, anyone can hurt us. Spain can beat great teams when they play happy, with a lot of grit and intention. Very few teams will also say that Spain is a comfortable rival, on the contrary, we are uncomfortable for many.
“This team is capable of winning anyone, but when we are bad, anyone can hurt us”
Is there something of a miracle with the ‘Guerreras’, like world silver?
Spanish handball puts a lot of heart, grit and enthusiasm. That may be part of the miracle because perhaps we neither have the means nor are we the tallest nor the strongest, but we pull on other things that differentiate us from other teams. I think we don’t have pressure, we have banished it from our vocabulary for this World Cup. That closeness and that affection of the people, more than putting pressure on us, has to relieve us.
Turnovers have been very limited in recent games.
It’s all girls’ work. We neither have the formula nor are we magicians, sometimes things turn out better and sometimes worse. The team played very concentrated and, in the end, that level of concentration has led us to reduce turnovers. Hopefully it follows this line, it is not easy.
Prades, directing the ‘Guerreras’ during a match
The two most important absences are Nerea Pena and Mireya González.
They are two very important players, but now they are not here and the group has to become strong. This time we believe that the most balanced list is that of 18 other players. They are still important, but we are going to war with what we have and the group is responding very well. Nerea had not competed for a long time, although she had improved a lot in the last month, and with Mireya we have considered that we could incorporate another player, like Irene Espínola, more versatile, who can defend in the center.
Carlos Viver’s departure after the Tokyo Games was surprised. How did they experience that transition as you were their helper?
Nobody likes or wanted these circumstances, but the federation made the decision. We are here for the group to function, it is what really matters now, not how or why, it is not up to us.
Did the disappointment of the Games increase internal tensions?
I do not consider that there were internal tensions. I don’t think this is the time to bring up things that have already happened. It was something that nobody expected and that perhaps we all would have wished it had happened differently, but we don’t have to think about it any more. You have to be very satisfied to get to the Games. We stayed at the doors of the rooms and perhaps that left one with a bad taste in the mouth.
“Very few teams will say that Spain is a comfortable opponent. On the contrary, we are uncomfortable for many teams.”
Until when as coach?
There is no confirmation. They asked me so quickly that we talked about shooting until the World Cup, we didn’t specify too much either. The main thing was not to talk much about the future, but an immediate need with the World Cup, that is what we have focused on.
Do you have the illusion of continuing after the World Cup?
We are so immersed in our work that, honestly, I am not worried about nor am I considering anything beyond the World Cup and this exciting and beautiful month that awaits us. If we enjoy this World Cup, surely everything else will come rolled.
What can you expect from the national team in the coming years?
The work of years ago has been very positive and there is a large group. There are people with a lot of experience who are irreplaceable and will have to go through a little journey when they are not there, but it is a natural process. You have to think positive because there are many girls who are in the orbit of the national team who can enter. Hopefully the team continues to perform as well despite these changes.
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