Orozko: “I am a much better player after my time in the Second Division”

The signing of Iñigo Orozko by Barakaldo was a real bombshell. The stout striker reached the Third Federation after playing 28 games and scoring three goals in the Second Division, three levels above this Third Federation. As revealed to EL CORREO, this movement was motivated by being able to combine his work with soccer and by giving himself the joy of being able to fight for high levels after being relegated. The expectations placed on the Gipuzkoan were very high, but he is fully meeting them. He is the current ‘pichichi’ of the solo group with seven goals in eleven games.

-Once everything has been assimilated, what has it meant for you to be promoted to the Second Division and play a season in the silver category?

For me it was a gift. Arriving at the Second Division at the age of 28 after passing through the Honorary Division, five seasons in the Third Division and another three in Second B, I have already eaten all the mud football there is. So it’s a gift to all that trajectory and I really enjoyed it.

-You had many minutes in the Second Division last season. Why then did you decide to return to that mud football, drop three categories and sign for Barakaldo?

It was a very complicated decision. What happens is that, just after the play-off for promotion, I took the opposition for primary education. So, this year I was forced to choose between continuing in professional football, which is my great passion, training in the morning and giving up my job, or taking a job that I also love and that is more lasting. So, the summer that I have spent has been a horror. In the end the balance has fallen more due to education and that is why I am here.

-I would also have offers from other teams that train in the afternoon. Why did you opt for Barakaldo?

Once I decided to take the path of education, I couldn’t leave football and I needed an intermediate phase. It is true that Gernika was also interested in me, but it is the Second Federation, where the journeys are somewhat longer. In the end, I decided on Barakaldo because it is a historic club that was going to form a good team to be at the top and I wanted to have a good year after relegation, which is always very hard.

-What are the main differences that you have observed from the Second Division to the Third Federation?

The difference is very big, above all, in the rhythm of the game. The rhythm in professional football is brutal and I noticed that a lot at the beginning. Then I also notice it in the quality of the players because that is the elite. In Second there are many footballers who can play perfectly in First. It’s category madness.

-In that sense, has this requirement meant a great learning for you in football?

Yes, I am a much better player after my time in the Second Division. The higher the category you are in, the better players you surround yourself with. There you have two options: evolve or die. At the beginning there were rounds in which I did not see the ball, they fought me. Then you adapt. Each training session was a master class, everything I have been able to learn from veteran players like Mikel Álvaro, Aldalur, Aimar, San José or from youngsters like Guruzeta or Larrazabal is nonsense. The Orozko that arrives at Amorebieta and the one that leaves have nothing to do with it.

-Now they have signed the best start in the history of Barakaldo with ten wins and a draw. Did you imagine that, at this point, they were immersed in such a good dynamic?

I was very confident in the project because there were very good players, but it also surprised me. These numbers are incredible, the level of the team is stratospheric and we must try to extend the streak as long as we can because the Third Division is a complicated category. We will have lean times and we must have a good mattress.

-Are you afraid that when they come badly given the team can drop a lot emotionally?

I don’t think so. This team has its feet on the ground, the coaching staff does a good job to keep us always connected, we believe in their idea and that will prevent us from going into a loop after a defeat. We will continue to trust what we do. In addition, we have the advantage of playing every two weeks in Lasesarre, which is very crowded and provides extra support.

“Priorize the collective”

-After the decisive goal you scored against Padura, you are the top scorer in the group alone. Do you set yourself the personal goal of being the ‘pichichi’?

No, I don’t pay much attention to the goals I score. If these years at Amorebieta have taught me anything, it is that the collective must always prevail. If things go well, everyone will also do better. After all, no matter how much I score the goal, that’s everyone’s job. For example, the season of promotion to Segunda is the one I remember most fondly and I only scored two goals.