Squad news
Q&A WITH LOPO
19 Dec 2009
Alberto Lopo had a chat conversation with the readers of newspaper La Opinión A Coruña; the Catalan talked about his career and also about the current season of Deportivo.
Q: When the match ends, do you see the statistics in order to realise about what you have done? I mean steals, good passes, offsides…
A: No, but if during a game any player or the whole team hasn’t been good, then the coach calls you and he shows to you the stats and the videos.
Q: What youngsters from the B squad should be your natural replacement for the future?
A: In my position, Piscu and Rochela, plus others that will come…
Q: What’s you opinion on Juan Dominguez and Rochela?
A: Juan Dominguez is already a reality, he made his debut the other day and still has a lot years to improve, he is going to be a great player, and Rochela is also highly valued at the club and soon he will make the jump.
Q: Juan Dominguez was talking about jokes due to his debut at Primera División, do you make jokes with the youngsters?
A: No, but we always force the kids to talk in front of everybody during the lunches or dinners, so he can say what he feels, but later we don’t allow them to speak.
Q: What about those back problems that affected you in the past, are you still hurt?
A: Fortunately those problems have disappeared.
Q: From 1 to 10, how important is the work at the gym in order to be prepared for a game?
A: I believe that 8, not only for the physical work that is done, but for the prevention of injuries.
Q: Which one was the best goal that you scored in your career?
A: One that I scored against Real Madrid with Espanyol, though we lost later, but it was special for me, it was a pretty goal.
Q: Which one was your preferred position when you were a kid?
A: I started as a right winger, so they started to pull me down and I ended here.
Q: At what age did you start playing football?
A: I started when I was seven, in the team of my hometown, Bellvitge, Barcelona.
Q: At your age, are you starting to think of retirement?
A: I still have some gas and am not thinking of the retirement.
Q: There’s always the doubt, at your level, are you only a central defender, or must have an orientation to the left or right? I mean do you have any predilection for any side?
A: Yes, any central defender must know how to play in both positions.
Q: Lotina said before that you requested to play on the left spot of central defence, it is true? Why?
A: Yes, I asked this in order to change a little bit, my whole career has been played on the right side, and I wanted to probe myself on the left and see how it was it.
Q: What’s the secret for the good relationship between the players? Something that’s always emphasised, it has to do with the nocturnal exits that you have?
A: Yes, it’s true that we have a good environment… but not only because you go out at night, but also for the diurnal meetings. We go out often and that’s good.
Q: What is the secret of this Deportivo, the changing room? The players? The coach?
A: A little of everything, I believe that those three questions represent a good mix of what is going on.
Q: How do you face the fact that the defenders are scoring more goals than the strikers?
A: Good, for me it is anecdotal, right now it seems that only the defenders are scoring, but the strikers will do it as soon as they can.
Q: Who were your idols when you were a kid?
A: My idol was always (Fernando) Hierro, I always was looking at him.
Q: Is the national team something already forgotten or do you still think you can go to the World Cup?
A: Yes, it’s something that for me is a little forgotten, because the coach already has a solid group and is difficult to enter there.
Q: People say that Lotina is learning English, do you see him at the Premier League for next season?
I don’t know, I’m sure he will stay if they offer a renewal, but I don’t think he’s learning English just because he wants to leave.
Q: What is the thing that worries you the most about the game against Valencia?
A: I’m worried that the team can’t match the same height of other games, but I think we will be at the top and that we can win.
Q: How to stop Villa?
A: You need many aids to stop Villa, especially to not see him receiving the ball; I believe that the whole team of Valencia is very good.
Q: Why you always kill the hope of reaching Europe saying that the first thing is the permanence?
A: We are not killing the hope, we are the first that want to play in Europe, but we must be realistic and the first thing is to secure the permanence.
Q: Do you feel unhappy with the season made by Espanyol?
A: Espanyol and Deportivo and the only two clubs in which I’ve played, it is a pity to see them down there, but surely will go up.
Q: In which position will Depor end the season?
A: As long as we go to Europe it is the same for me, clearly it’s better to go to the Champions than the UEFA Cup.
Q: With whom do you feel more comfortable, with Colotto or Ze Castro?
A: With both, I do believe that both are good central defenders, they help you to do the right things.
Q: Are you more close to renew or to go out transferred?
A: I still have two years of contract and you never know, I am comfortable on here and if the present allows me to renew, then I will be enchanted, but in football you never know what is going to happen.