The Basque coach led Lugo in the final stretch of last season and this Sunday he returns to lead Ponferradina
14 sep 2023 . Updated at 8:44 p.m.
igo Vlez de Mendizbal Fernndez de Garaialde (Vitoria, 1982) is the current coach of Ponferradina, Lugo’s rival this Sunday. Enter the Lugo team during the last twelve days of the last league. He now has seven points out of a possible nine with the Bercians.
—What feelings do you have about your return to Lugo?
—Wanting to see the people there because I was there for three months, it was complicated in terms of results, but, first, because I have an excellent relationship with the coaching staff and, then, because of people from the club who bet on me when I was jobless. I am very grateful and looking forward to seeing you again.
“What was the highlight of the locker room he had in Lugo?”
—I arrived at a difficult time because we were twelve points away from safety. It is true that the debut in Vitoria gave us strength with that draw against a team that ended up being promoted to First Division. In the game against Racing they tied us in the last minute and I don’t know if it would have been enough to save us, but it was enough to get us hooked. I am delighted with the reception I received from that group. They trained well. The professionalism they had until the end will stand out.
—How were the contacts with Lugo for a possible renewal?
—In the end everything is much simpler. I am a candidate, they have the idea that I can continue, but they were looking for a sports director. We said goodbye from there. Hey, let’s talk. There were more candidates and first they had to sign a sports director. And me the same. It is an option that I considered to continue in Lugo, but if there were more options I was going to evaluate them as well because it is normal. When I tell Ponferradina to go ahead, it is just when the sports director in Lugo is signed. Everything matches. But absolutely nothing happens. These are football things that I don’t give much importance to either. It’s much simpler. The contracts are until June 30. Oh I don’t go in. It’s not something strange, he gave him the word or he didn’t give him the word, he deceived such and such. What’s up, what’s up. It’s football. I liked this alternative and there is no more.
—Was it very important to win the last game in Burgos to finish the league with more positive feelings?
—Well, the truth is that yes. There were games like against Racing, Andorra, Ponferradina itself or against Tenerife that we could have won. On a personal level, it was a joy for me. I already knew that it was worthless for the classification and for many people, but the team deserved it, also for the way it was done, which is what we had worked on: the team together, going out quickly, on wings, transitions. We won 0-1, but we missed a penalty and Panti’s goal was disallowed. At least prove to ourselves that we were a team. The truth is, damn, I was worth it in that regard.
—What was your relationship with the Lugo coaching staff?
—Well, I’ve made three friends. Secho (Jos Manuel Martínez Paz) is no longer here, but Rubén (Arce) and Antán (Eir), beyond the friendship that has already united us, I arrived there on a Wednesday at nine at night and we spent until twelve o’clock preparing a training. An attitude, a commitment to make everything go ahead, to help me in everything, that I will be eternally grateful for how they received me as the fourth coach because they could say yes, but what does it matter. Especially the two of them, who really feel Lugo. It is to be valued.
—Cmo was on relacin with Wagner Molina?
—With Wagner very well. Both Wagner and the president called me and trusted me in a difficult moment. I am very grateful, I have told them personally. I had a great day-to-day relationship with Wagner, trying to improve the team, with the pressure as well. Delighted to have met you.
—Was there ever any limitation on being able to field or promote a reserve team player like Jesús Fernández to the first team?
-No. Maybe it’s because I was there for a short time. When I saw Antonetti he seemed interesting to me and on top of that we needed him. I wanted to play with two strikers. I was playing with Javi (Avils) and Sebas (Moyano) who are not top forwards. Manu (Barreiro) was a little affected, Marko (?cepovic) too. And the same with Castron. It is true that the team was not there to debut, but it was a complicated situation. Rosán also come in with us. I don’t have any perception of that, but anyway because I was only there for three months. I didn’t see anything else.
—What would stand out about Lugo in these first three days?
—With things very clear, 4-4-2, well worked, a team that is difficult to score a goal, taking away the game from Dpor, but with 0-1 Lugo can tie. It is a team with great players, great signings and with a coach who has also done things very well as in his last stage in Sabadell. It is a very complicated team.
—Do you particularly like any player?
—Yes, there are very good players. Removing Antonetti and Castrón, the rest are new.
—And Carlos Torrado.
—S, and Torrado, right back of the subsidiary. They have signed players like Sabit, who was here in Ponferrada, Vctor Narro, Nacho Quintana is a boy from Sevilla Atlético who is doing very well, Anton, Javi Vzquez from Ibiza. And behind Caesar and Gorka. I know everyone. Lugo has been put together very well.
—What would stand out about Andrés Castrón and Leandro Antonetti? Because Carlos Torrado did not enter with the first team during his time here.
—Yes, that’s right, Torrado, don’t come with us. Yes, I saw him in reserve team games, he had the ability to be in the first team and he is showing it. That’s why he has stayed. Castrón and Antonetti are exceptional guys. I shared my entire time there with Castrón. Young people who are going to grow, who are going to give Lugo good minutes. They have earned being in the first team for attitude and quality.
—How does Ponfe reach this fourth day?
—The results make everything better or worse, but this category is very complicated. The other day against Sabadell they took advantage of their set pieces and with the score at 0-1 they had chances. We managed to tie. They are very complicated rivals. We, having a practically new squad and some having arrived later because there are people who basically have not done the preseason, are adapting little by little, trying to get the best out of each one and trying to get them physically as good as possible.
It is a pleasure to return and a shame that only one of the two teams can win
—What would stand out about one of your signings, the Galician Brais Abelenda, which was your first request?
—Yes, I already knew him from Pontevedra from previous years. I am delighted with all of them because, Milln, it has been a market in which I have learned everything because they have all been new, except for Yuri and Ale (Dez), who we have renewed. Everything has been agreed upon, everything is known, everything has been discussed with the sports management. I’m seeing it as an advantage. Brais has very good conditions, he is already giving us and he can give us more. I hope it is your best year on a personal and sporting level.
—During this pre-season and the beginning of the league, a Lucense from Burela has trained as Pol Bassa, signed this summer and having been transferred to the Gimnstica de Torrelavega. What did you highlight from there?
—Pol is another ten kid, this one is incredible. This is football and we see that he was not going to have the minutes he deserved due to attitude. I wish him personally and I wish him publicly the best. He has trained every day as if he were the last. In fact, debut in a complicated situation against Celta B, we were without players, he came in with enthusiasm, with an incredible attitude. I only have good words for Pol. I hope he is very happy in Torrelavega.
—And football-wise, how would you describe it?
—He is a left back with a lot of travel, a lot of intensity, with good shots. Physically it is clear that he is not tall, he is small, but he played more than 30 games for Burgos Promesas, he was with us in preseason and is going to play in Torrelavega. He is under-23. He has a lot of rhythm.
—Why did you choose to sign Jess Fernández Alonso and Pablo Clavera? Apart from Andoni López, whom he had already trained in Lugo and Amorebieta.
—When I arrive in Ponferrada, Jess is one of the possibilities. I know him, I have seen him play, not me as a coach, but I have seen him and I have good references about him. In the end the option comes out ahead. And Clave (Pablo Clavera) is very interesting. When Mangel was injured we had a free card, I remember that Clave still doesn’t have a team and we got in touch. He is made from one day to the next. And I was delighted because I really liked Lugo.
—What message would you send to the Lugo fans and the city?
—I’m looking forward to returning to see the people I was with because they gave me the opportunity, the fans behaved wonderfully in a complicated situation. I remember the first games against Racing, Ponferradina or Tenerife when the stadium was full. It was very pretty. I was very comfortable in the city, very comfortable in the club, it will be a pleasure to see them again and it is a shame that only one of the two can win.
Filed in: CD Lugo Ponferradina Primera RFEF
2023-09-14 18:44:00
#Castrón #Antonetti #earned #attitude #quality
