Bruno’s sacrifice at Sporting because “the situation required it”: “I’ve been playing with a broken rib for a month”

–I’m a day late, but congratulations on your 33rd. birthday.

-Thank you. In the team they have not congratulated me because they did not know, only some physio. Since I don’t have social networks, I kept it quiet and saved myself the hallway (he laughs). Nor will I say it at the meal that we organized today (for yesterday), which they still make me pay for later (he laughs).

–What is your balance of the season?

-The objective was one and time is putting you where you deserve. If we are where we are, it is because we deserve it. Everyone has to do self-criticism and rethink, each one in their area, the reason for this bad season.

– What does the data tell you that Sporting would be sixth if only the results up to the break were taken into account? What happened afterwards?

There are many different things. The analysis of what was experienced in Eibar, for example, would be different from others. We have needed to better manage the details, know how to play with the rhythms of a game. Those things translate into points. Especially in Second, because there is a lot of equality.

–Trade and mischief?

-That is not all. You can’t have everything either. There are a lot of young guys and it’s a reason for joy, but they can’t have the energy of the youngster and the experience of the veteran.

How has the year been personally?

-Complicated. I arrived in November, it’s hard because I had been training for six months, but off the pitch. Then I play in the Cup and League, I injured my ankle and by forcing myself I hurt myself even more. The previous coach is fired, a new coach comes and I’m injured… I recover, but I don’t count… In the end I start to play and now I’ve had many games in a row. I have gone from less to more until the Cartagena game.

-What happened?

–Since then I have had a badly damaged rib. Come on, fractured.

– Have you been playing with a broken rib for a month?

-Yeah. The situation required that I continue, both collectively and personally. We were playing a lot. We talked to the doctors and with the pain and everything that comes with it, we moved on.

–Have you welded the fracture yet?

-No. We made a plate still on Monday and no. I don’t even know how the action in which I fractured it was. From the first half I felt like it was hard for me to breathe, but nothing more. The next day, I could hardly get out of bed. Now I can only sleep on my back. If I turn, the pain wakes me up. At least, I think I have competed at a good level.

Will you rest on Sunday?

It’s the coach’s decision. For me, I am available, as until now.

–Contract ends. Have you spoken with the club?

We haven’t talked about anything. We were playing everything until a couple of days ago, the important thing was to get that out. If they are happy, I am happy here. I am focused on the last game and then it will be seen.

-What are your plans?

–After a year like this it is complicated. The collective objective has not been met, but the personal objective has been, in the sense of having minutes and accumulating matches. I came to end up fighting to go up, but it didn’t happen. Now I don’t want to think further. I have told my agent not to transfer anything to me until the end of the season. The first one I will listen to will be Sporting. The club will have its deadlines and its ideas. On Monday all (the players) have meetings. There are colleagues in the same situation. Now, to win on Sunday.

-He came endorsed by Abelardo and now the future is Ramírez.

–I knew Abelardo long before and I have to thank him that, obviously, he was the one who bet to bring me. Miguel Ángel is a very good person. To all the people who are honest and work like him, there is no problem for me. I told him this week: if you don’t put me on, I’ll be angrier, but you won’t have problems with me. He was super respectful since he arrived. When he didn’t put me on, he treated me the same as the owner.

– Is it scarce in football?

–Sometimes, perhaps unconsciously on the part of the coaches. I have had to experience both sides (play and not play) and it shows in details such as corrections or rewarding aspects of how you are training. In that sense, Ramírez and his coaching staff do well. Next year he will have more time to prepare the team to his liking. I’m sure things will work out for you.

Did you run out of time?

–He comes with some ideas, but you also have to have players with certain characteristics. It all depends on the balance. The first thing is to compete. In football there is no patience. Here and everywhere. This is professional sport. In the end, what matters is winning. Las Palmas was whistled at home and now they are about to be promoted directly. There’s a fine line between looking pretty and winning. If you give me a choice, I choose to win. Always. On Monday nobody remembers if you played badly or well, they remember if you won.

–To you who likes boxing a lot: this Second Division is like a fight with Canelo Álvarez, to the minimum, goodbye…

-Canelo usually wins and it costs us a lot. Let’s say it’s like any very close fight and instead of 12 rounds, 42.

–How is your relationship with this sport and with a figure like Manel Berdonce?

“I got into it as a kid. One of my friends, Orestes Molina, played soccer with him on the Las Galletas team (the town in Tenerife where he grew up) later started boxing. He stood out, they took him to the Spanish team and there the coach was Manel Berdonce. In Tenerife I trained boxing, come on, I made mitts. I never competed. I also did it while I was playing football at Tenerife, because it helps me prepare. I continued at Betis and in the other teams. When I arrived in Madrid, I asked Orestes where he could train me, and then he introduced me to Berdonce. Friendship arose and we have in Madrid, together with other partners, a gym (Berdonce Boxing Studio).

–Where do you train here in Asturias?

–In Oviedo, with “Diamante” Nieto. Berdonde recommended it to me. Now I go less, because of the rib.

–You faced Vinicius with Valladolid. Is Spain a racist country?

–It is a problem of society, not of football. Spain is not a racist country, but people are allowed to say any nonsense on a football field. Some people think that, since you pay for a ticket, you can say anything. I have played many games at the Mestalla and the fans are spectacular. To the four morons who say racist things, let their hair fall out. Now there are a thousand ways to identify them. I have gone to England to see Guaita (Crystal Palace player) and there the respect for the footballer is brutal.

–If these were your last days as a Sporting player, what would you say to the fans?

-Thank you. I have always felt loved and respected, both in the field and on the street.