In a matter of two weeks he has recovered the spark. It was his goal, but perhaps she didn’t expect to achieve it in such a short time. Manu Vallejo (Chiclana de la Frontera, Cádiz, 1997) was a child prodigy at Carranza before seeking continuity in the foreground. He lacked continuity in Valencia and in Gerona it seemed that he was on a similar path. That’s why he considered going out in winter. Oviedo held out his hand and he thought about returning to where one day he was happy. Not because of the place, but because of the people. Álvaro Cervera is the link between the best Vallejo and the current one. He smiles again. He begins to enjoy himself and Oviedo grabs hold of his most exciting signing in winter to think of higher levels than permanence. “The play-off?” He asks himself, “for me it’s a goal. You have to be ambitious.”
-How are you doing?
-Very good. Adapting to everything To the city, to the club, to the style of play… The reception has been spectacular, at all levels, both the club and the dressing room.
–He scored the winning goal in Malaga. He had eleven months without scoring
-Yeah? So much? She didn’t even remember me. I did one with Girona, but they canceled it. The goal is a consequence. If you feel good and you are close to the area, you have to arrive. What I am looking for in Oviedo is to rediscover myself. And marking is easier.
Have you seen it repeated?
-Yes Yes. Several times (laughs).
How does he act in the game? Instinct?
–It is not very common for me to score with a header, but some have. With Cádiz I have one similar to Salvi’s center, against Reus. In the field it seemed easier to me than later when I analyzed it on video. In the end, the unmarking and the shot come out on their own, but it is not as simple as it may seem.
-Congratulations?
-Yes of course. I have many people behind me who value me and those messages of encouragement are appreciated.
–The goal came with his family in the stands.
–It is for them that I am most happy. They are the ones who live it the most, we are all one. The trip from Chiclana went well for them (laughs).
–You said the other day that your first impressions in Oviedo reminded you of Cádiz.
-That’s how it is. The coach hasn’t changed much. It’s the same idea, the same workouts. There are many things that remind me of that season that was very good personally. I seek to recover my best version and that way it seems easier to achieve it.
–How did you leave Girona?
–In principle I had no plans to leave, but they signed another footballer in my position (the Ukrainian Tsyhankov) and I reconsidered things. And in this new thought, Oviedo is always my first option. Then comes the call from the coach (Cervera), which is more recognition than anything else, to see how I am and what idea I have. But I already told you that Oviedo was my first option if I left Girona.
– Is it difficult to leave the First Division?
-Of course it costs, yes. With how difficult it is to get there! But in the end I had to make a decision for my family and myself. It was a more emotional than football choice. I was looking for love.
Is confidence in your football as important as it seems?
–In my case and in that of 90% of footballers, I believe. As a player you train well, you take care of yourself, you lead a responsible life… Some habits that are not seen and it can happen that in the end another teammate plays in your place. I linked several years without that confidence and it shows in your game. But it was arriving here and in a week it has changed. I haven’t eaten anything different or done anything new, and I was lucky enough to score a goal. With a little confidence it is easier for things to work out.
–Your first memory with a ball?
–In the Trovador, the field of the APA Sancti Petri. My mother would leave me there to train and play until she came to pick me up. I started there and from the beginning at the top, scoring many goals.
His father was a footballer.
Yes, forward too. In Chiclana they say that better than me. The older ones, those who saw him play, say that I wish I played half as much as he did… But the numbers are there! (Laughter).
–They also say that you are more diligent in soccer.
I consider myself very stubborn. I always fight for what I propose. That’s what they taught me at home.
–Her parents have a bar, Venta Espadita. What was it like growing up there?
–We spend many hours there because my house is connected to the bar. Many times it was the turn of my brother Álvaro and I to lend a hand. My father never asked me for help, he said that he had to get out of me. But if there was trouble, my mother would arrive and say: “Manu, to lend a hand.” And there he went.
–Due to your style, do you consider yourself a neighborhood footballer?
-Could be. And it is something that today has been lost. I have watched a lot of football since I was little, there in Chiclana, I have surrounded myself with older people. Those things mark. I consider myself a neighborhood footballer, yes.
–He arrived at Cádiz based on goals.
–I signed in cadets and it was quite natural. I kept scoring, climbing the quarry little by little. Until I got to the branch.
– Were you in the Carranza on May 31, 2015?
I was, yes, yes. The day Oviedo went up. In Cádiz there was a lot of optimism about the result of the first leg. I remember that Andy and Lucas sang and that Oviedo’s goal came from a corner. And that they blamed Tomás, a boy from the quarry. In Cádiz it was a very sad day.
-They say that it is Cordero who recommends Cervera to raise him.
–Juan Carlos (Cordero) was the one who controlled the subsidiary and that summer there was talk of several departures from the team. I saw an opportunity and I seized on it. It went well for me since preseason.
– Were you not surprised by such a rapid adaptation?
It was all very natural. Actually he was doing the same thing he had been doing in the lower categories. It wasn’t a big change.
–Valencia calls him. what a strong bet for you. More responsibility?
“I received it with enthusiasm. We are talking about one of the greats of Spain, although he does not have the best moment of him. The coach (Cervera) also spoke highly of that club to me. It was a great move for both Cádiz and me. The opportunity to play in Primera.
–What was missing in Valencia to function well?
–More confidence in my game. The first year I started well, I scored a couple of goals, then I got injured and I no longer had continuity. My second year I think it was already very good. I had minutes, I noticed that Gracia, the coach, was counting on me. I faced my third year in Valencia with great enthusiasm and with optimism because of what had happened the previous year. But a new coach (Bordalás) came and with him there was no…
–¿No hubo “feeling”?
–No “feeling” or anything. From there it was difficult for me, especially psychologically. I thought it would be a good year and I had a hard time assimilating it. They didn’t let me be well, nor was I. The numbers in Valencia were not bad until that third year, but from the beginning I knew that it was not part of the plans. I had a bad time.
–Besides family, who do you lean on in bad times?
–Family is the most important thing, the one that puts up with me in bad times, but lately I am working with a sports psychologist. It is a tool that is being used more and more at this level and that helps. I appreciate it.
–What is it like to be champion of Europe under-21?
-Something incredible. In that team I was surrounded by stars, it was an unforgettable experience. There was Merino, Ceballos, Soler, who became a good friend, Oyarzábal…
–Why did you choose Girona last summer?
I had one year left on my contract. I came from Vitoria where the months were not good, but in the preseason with Valencia I did give a good level, but, of course, the contractual situation was not the best. It was the best for the club and the Girona option came up. It was a dynamic style, of going towards the rival and I liked it. I decided to take the plunge and I don’t regret it.
-In Girona it cost him…
-As soon as I arrived, I participated. They gave me a couple of penalties, they meant points, they disallowed a goal against Betis… I didn’t have many minutes, but I contributed. I got to the end and there were a lot of attacking players, the coach preferred other players.
–What personal goals do you set yourself in Oviedo?
-Help. One way or the other. If I score, give assists and play well, the closer we’ll be to winning. That’s what I’m looking for.
– What does Cervera ask you?
“He’s clear with me. He tells me what I have to do, what areas I have to go to, what I have to run (laughs). Nothing has changed with me.
-What do you think of this Oviedo?
It is a very competitive team. If you achieve two or three victories in a row, which is very difficult, I know, it changes your perspective. We are on it. If we manage to beat Burgos, we get in there and we can look at things with an objective.
–Complete the sentence: The play-off is…
-An objective. You have to be ambitious. But it is not enough to say it alone, you have to work to try to achieve it. If we set a goal, it is to demand ourselves and work for it. We will go for 50 points first, but the sooner we achieve them, the first we will start thinking about more ambitious steps for everyone.
