Martín Zubimendi spoke to SPORT, the newspaper of the Prensa Ibérica group, and aims to take over from Sergio Busquets in the Spanish team
Talk about the current situation of the national team and about the role he hopes to have in the absolute
Martín Zubimendi attended to SPORTgroup newspaper Iberian pressthis Tuesday March 21 from the concentration of the senior team.
The footballer of the Real society talk about sports news and aims to be the relay of Sergio Busquets in the Spanish team
How have these first two days in the national team been? The environment would already be familiar to him from the sub’21
I am very happy, looking forward to enjoying myself and getting to know these elite teammates. I want to check how it goes with them.
You had Luis de la Fuente as coach in the sub’21, how would you define him?
Luis knows all of us very well, he comes from the lower categories and almost all of us have gone through them. I think he is the best in knowledge of footballers. He has very clear ideas and when transmitting he is very direct. Personally, he’s a guy who goes straight up and tells you like it is.
Is he an offensive-minded coach?
Yes, but we also work a lot defensively. we work it all
“Haaland is key for them, but we like to play against the best”
Haaland is out for Norway ahead of Saturday, is that a big relief?
It is true that it is a key piece for them. We like to play against the best and beat the best. It will cost them more without him, but we are going for them.
Yes, Sorloth or Odegaard will be there, whom you know from Real Sociedad… Have they talked about the game?
I have less of a relationship with Odegaard because I only met him for a few months. With Sorloth the deal is greater and this week between jokes, he told me that he was going to tell on our good and bad things. Good. All with good vibes.
In any case, Norway seems like a rival capable of combining the physical game with the technical one
They have two alternatives. Play long, dispute, run into space and then they have Odegaard for the inside game. between the lines, which is one of the best.
Is it true that De la Fuente is particularly insistent on the importance of the pivot?
Since I arrived at the sub’21 he placed a lot of emphasis on that position. I more or less think I gave him what he asked for. I’m happy to be here, especially with him.
“Gavi, defensively, he’s an animal, I want to enjoy him as a teammate”
And with Gavi as a partner, you didn’t know him before, right?
We had only met in direct confrontations. We’ve only been there for two days, I want to get to know you more and we’ll have time to do so.
I suppose you prefer to have him as a partner than as a rival? What a rock!
Yes, he is a very complete player. Both offensively, with the quality that he has, and defensively, that he is an animal, we know how he runs, he goes to the clash and now I want to enjoy him as a teammate
It is inevitable that if Busquets announces his withdrawal from the national team and you join, they will be compared, would you like this parallelism to be made?
When comparing myself to Busquets, anyone would lose out. We share a position, but at the same time we are very different. Busquets is the best at what he does. In my own way I will try to make my way, the comparisons may be there but I do not focus on them.
“Busquets is my benchmark and will be for many more years”
Is it your reference?
Yes, it’s clear, for any pivot Busquets has been the benchmark in recent years and will be for many more.
Did you like the statement that ‘Busi’ made, explicitly citing you as his possible replacement?
I am happy that players of the stature of Busquets pay attention to players like me. He has been a reference, he is the one who knows the most. That he quotes me makes me very happy.
Does it seem compatible with Rodri to play with a double pivot as it is said that De la Fuente could do?
In defensive aspect it is clear that we will play with a double pivot, but in attack we will go out with a pivot, with two interiors and a ‘ten’ at a higher height. In theory it will not be a double pivot.
Do you consider yourself a pivot to use or with more mobility due to your great physique?
I can be more mobile, but in general I have always played pivot. At Real Sociedad I play center-back from time to time, but rarely inside.
For you, what should a midfielder do?
He has to be giving solutions, offensive and defensive, all the time. Always be attentive to your teammates, offensively and defensively. Solve situations and above all have leadership, command, be the axis of everything.
“Xavi is one of those who knows the most”
When Xavi Hernández is asked about a pivot for the future, he always talks about you. what do you think?
That people like Xavi, who have won everything, who are one of those who know the most, talk about me is already a reason to be happy. Beyond that, it would be illogical not to think about anything other than Real Sociedad, we are having a great season and I am very happy.
In the summer there was a lot of talk about his future, in the end he renewed until 2027, but he maintains a not excessively high clause of 60 million. Was it a decision to own his future?
Beyond the clause, when someone wants to be in a club, the clause doesn’t matter. I think it is a balanced clause with all the aspects that the contract brought together. Nothing more than that.
“Arsenal? I didn’t want to listen to anything, especially in winter”
What was true in all the rumors that were said about Arsenal in the winter market?
Rumors, rumors, because I told my manager that I didn’t want to hear anything, especially in winter. Leaving Real Sociedad aside with the season we are having would be illogical. Here I am very happy.
Can summer be another story?
I look forward to a quiet summer. Like the others and nothing.
Before the summer comes the Final Four of the UFA Nations League, another great challenge.
The national team gives you a showcase, another level, you want to try yourself with very good people, against very good teams, the best and best teams.
A midfield made up of Zubimendi, Pedri and Gavi sounds very good…
It also sounds good to me, with Pedri it cannot be now due to a relapse, but in the future it can be fulfilled.
Did you enjoy Pedri a lot at the Tokyo Olympics?
I already knew him from the sub’21 and spoke wonders of him. In the Games he already had another impact and it can be seen every day.
It was a great group, with Eric García as well, many youngsters who continue to aim high.
It was a very large selection, we stayed one step away from gold, but the experience was very positive
