ruben castro has entered the history of Spanish football. After achieving on Monday against Zaragoza a double that places him as the top national scorer between the First and Second Division, the canary attends to The opinion of Malaga next to the goal where he achieved his historic record and recounts the number of messages of affection he has received since his name became a legend. In a season that is being difficult, the blue and white striker, the “pichichi” of the team –7 as many-, ensures that both he and his family are comfortable in the club and the city and expresses his desire to continue next season, although he is aware of the reality at the moment: “I do not have any more years on my contract, although I hope I can continue” . That is the wish of a footballer who right now is clear about everyone’s priority: «The issue is to save us, that is above anything else. Later it will be seen».
The desired goal arrived, that goal to surpass Quini’s record as the top national scorer…
Yes, he was resisting me. It was costing me more than necessary, I hadn’t scored for two months. I have achieved it. It was the perfect day. The day the team needed to win by any means possible, I got my record. It was a perfect day for me.
It was a beautiful goal, Vaseline. The goal dreamed of by anyone to break a record…
I did not expect it to be like this, in the end it has happened. This goes by streaks, the other day I scored two goals that maybe I didn’t score at another time. It was a very good goal to get the record.
How many messages have you received since Monday?
Quite a few… On Monday night my cell phone was full of messages from people who were happy to achieve this challenge. I have suffered and I have had a lot of sacrifice to score all those goals. Very grateful to the people who have written to me.
“I didn’t expect to play as a substitute and score two goals. That’s how it touched me. Football has these things”
Paradoxically, the double comes just at a time when he is playing less, being a substitute. What did the coach say?
The issue of playing or not playing, nothing happens. I didn’t expect to play as a substitute and score two goals, it’s not normal. It has touched me like this. Soccer has those things, I play half a game and score two goals. Who decides if I play or not is the coach. I have it clear, play 5 minutes, half an hour or 90, I’m going to do it with all the desire in the world and trying to help the team. We all deserve to play.
He would sign to continue as a substitute until the end of the season and continue scoring.
Of course, already. And not score any more goals and that the team is saved, too.
He has 7 goals, it is not a bad figure but it is far from his usual records. What does he blame it on? Staff? group?
It is a bad number. That I don’t have more goals is my fault, I’m missing occasions that I didn’t used to miss before. There are 14 games left, in football that is a world and we are going to see if I can surpass 10 goals.
Have you set yourself that 10-goal challenge?
Well… At the beginning of the season I put on the idea of surpassing last year, which was 20. It must be said. It has not been given to me this year, I have failed more than normal. The objective now is to score as many as possible to help the team save itself.
What has happened to the team in all these months? They started talking about promotion and in the end…
I don’t know what has happened specifically… Everything has gone wrong for us. It has not turned out what we expected. All of us who came thought of fighting for something other than what we are fighting for now. But in the end, football has put us in this situation and we have to know how to deal with it. We have to save the team anyway. I am sure that between the fans and us we are going to achieve it. You have to work for it.
How does so much change of coach affect the players? How do you see that last change from Pepe Mel to Pellicer?
When there are many changes, something is wrong. Each coach has his way, each one has led us down a path that they thought would turn out well. It has not been. Now Pellicer is putting a lot of intensity into us. He does not want anyone to be distracted, that we are all 100% involved. He knows that we risk our lives. On Monday we already won and we will see if we continue like this.
“That I don’t have more goals is my fault, I’m missing occasions that I didn’t used to miss before”
What has this latest victory meant? How is the team going to Granada now?
When you win, everything looks different. It is true that we are still 5 points away from relegation. You already go with another mentality, another desire. We knew we had to win yes or yes. Monday is a very difficult game, Granada is the only team that has not lost at home. Well, it’s your turn. The statistics are to be broken and I think we have a team to beat them, why not.
How do you see the confidence of the group ahead of the game?
After the victory the other day, people are more convinced, with more desire. We know that if we do things right, we can beat anyone. In this category we can all beat everyone. What better day than Monday, a full stadium, derby, our fans in the stands, a lot of people are going to travel. It’s a very good day to win.”
And after that game comes Racing. It is important to beat Granada and also that they do not add up and come to La Rosaleda as closely as possible.
Yes, we have to think about winning ourselves, if we don’t win it doesn’t matter what others do. What we have to do is win. And then that game against Racing will already be a final, final. But now we can’t think about that, we have to think about Granada.
Speaking now of the personal, he has been a professional for more than half his life. Looking back, from that debut at La Rosaleda, what do you think about?
That he was not going to get anywhere near scoring so many goals or that he was going to last so long playing football. In the end, with sacrifice and dedication I have achieved it. Being the top Spanish scorer is a source of pride, it is a huge challenge. Maybe I end up where I started. Very proud to be here in Malaga.
He says it might end where it started. There is already speculation about her future… What plans does she have? Has she decided?
The future, the first thing, is to save the team. That’s for sure. If you ask me, I am very comfortable here, I hope I can continue. I don’t have more years of contract, but hopefully I can continue.
If you got that renewal offer, would you sign it today?
Yeah.
No category conditions?
There are no conditions. They always ask me if we go down or if we don’t go down… The issue is saving us, it is above anything right now and we will see later, but it is true that I am very comfortable here, my family too. I don’t know if the club is comfortable with me. I want them to see that I give everything for the team and hopefully we can get saved.
So, even if it’s not in Malaga, he has decided to continue playing football next season.
Yes, depending on how it ends, but right now I’ve always trained, I’m available in matches, whether I play or not. I feel fine, and if I continue to feel like this…
He has broken the record for Spanish scorers and ahead, overall, you only have two left. Catching Messi is impossible, but Cristiano is 26 goals away. Do you see yourself capable of reaching it by playing one more season?
For me I am already the first, because with those two… You don’t have to count them. Hopefully, if I continue it is what I will have in mind. I know it’s very difficult, there are 26 goals. First of all, let’s see how I end up. Being physically fit, I don’t want to be dragging myself through the fields either. If I am physically fit, I will continue.
Speaking of the physical issue, there is a lot of talk about his diet, that he only eats chicken and pineapple. How real is it?
The coach said that because in the concentrations he always saw me eat the same thing, it’s not that I eat brisket and pineapple every day. In concentrations he used to eat it and that’s why he said it. During the day, I change the food, I have a nutritionist. They always say that the brisket is very good.
Finally, any bet to fulfill if the team ends up being saved?
Whatever. I can dye my hair blue or shave my head. Shaving my head is easier, but I’ll do anything if it’s to save the team.
