Interviews
Q&A WITH ÁLEX BERGANTIÑOS
13 Apr 2012
Midfielder Álex Bergantiños chatted with the fans thanks to newspaper La Opinión A Coruña; the Galician midfielder talked of the derby before RC Celta and also of the current season of Deportivo at Segunda División.
Q: Do you like to play at noon? What are your feelings of that frame, can you sleep the night before or is it worse due to the tension?
A: We're used to play at all hours and at Segunda is quite common the game at noon. I personally prefer to play in the evenings, but I don’t think it has too much influence. Anyway, I usually sleep well and am quiet until we go to the stadium, which is the place where the nerves begin to affect you.
Q: Why the team lowers its performance outside the Riazor? Is the derby a motivation for the youth players?
A: I don’t think that our performance decreases; I believe we are among the best visiting teams in terms of points; what’s true is that sometimes we have more problems trying to carry away with the initiative, but it’s something normal in all the teams on this league, because the major part of the teams base the achievement of their goals in the performance at home.
The derby is a special match for everyone, especially for people like me, because we have lived these games since we were kids watching from the stands. For me it’s a motivation, because I’m fulfilling a dream, and it’s also a great responsibility to be part of this team.
Q: Do you understand the hate created at Depor’s fans by some characters like Iago Aspas?
A: I believe we can’t hate anybody on this life. I do understand that there’s a rivalry, which is stronger with persons like Iago due to his declarations, but it should end at that point. I know the kid; he is temperamental and perhaps was too excessive as he wanted to please the fans; and I also believe that he realized about it and that surely will be more careful for future occasions.
Q: How do you feel at the first team and beyond that, helping in the promotion campaign?
A: I’m fulfilling a dream that I had since been a child. I will never forget the moments that I´m living on this season, because it was my debut with the team from my city and let’s hope we can achieve the so-desired promotion.
Q: What players has called your attention on this season at Segunda?
A: I would emphasize Ulloa for his numbers. He has scored a spectacular number of goals and it’s pretty hard to reach that tally.
Q: You and Juan Dominguez are the only Galician players at the team; do you feel motivated for it? Do you believe that all the players are feeling motivated due to the environment at A Coruña?
A: I believe all the players are conscious of their responsibility in this game. We, the ones from this land, know that this is an important match for the people from A Coruña.
Q: What do you think of the problems of transportation for the derby after the problems had by Celta’s fans?
A: It’s a complicate issue. The companies valorize the risks and make decisions, and you have to respect them. What I believe is that we [players, clubs, institutions, fans and media] must contribute to avoid this environment full of tension. As example, in the derby of the first round people talked more of the broken window in a bus and the damages made by four crazy persons than of the 35,000 fans that were placidly enjoying the show.
Q: After twelve straight victories at home can we said that the promotion is passing through the Riazor?
A: If we keep the line shown at the Riazor it would be difficult to miss it, but we are conscious that we can fail and that we can’t depend of the home meetings. We need to go out with intensity in the away games, so we can achieve the necessary points for the promotion.
Q: Would you live a derby on next season at Primera?
A: I believe it will be pretty for Galicia and Galician football. All the players want to enjoy these kinds of matches and the fans also like to watch them. For this reason Riazor and Balaidos are full, so it will be pretty for Galician football as it will have repercussion in and outside Spain.
Q: Can the result in the derby affect the morale of the team?
A: Clearly this match has a big emotional charge, because it’s a derby, and also for the consequences at the standings; after all, the first and second place are facing each other. But I don’t think it will be definitive… and no matter what happens we must be prepared for the final nine games.
Álex during the chat with the fans at the headquarters of La Opinión A Coruña
Q: You are a reference at midfield, did you expect to have this protagonic role?
A: The season has been great, and sincerely I wasn’t expecting to enjoy of so many minutes. I knew we had a great squad and that it was going to be tough to earn a spot. Luckily the coach is trusting in me and will keep giving my best in order to stay there.
Q: Apart from Deportivo and Celta, who do you believe are the other candidates for promotion?
A: I think that, for the game practiced and the positions at the standings, the favorites are Valladolid, Celta and Depor. I think that among these three teams we´ll see the two direct promoted clubs. Then the third team is a mystery, because any side has a chance as it is a play-off and the entire season is defined by minor details.
Q: What would be the position of Depor without Valerón and Aranzubia?
A: They are two very important players, but we would never know what would happen without them.
Q: Who’s the player at Fabril with more chances of entering into the first team?
A: There are several. So far we have Juan Carlos and Marc [Martinez] training with us all season long, and I think that, gradually, more players will join them, but is something that takes time.
Q: Is the game in Vigo the largest one in your career? Is Celta the side more forced to win?
A: I don’t know if the most important, but it’s among the most important and beautiful games.
I think that, in a derby, the obligation and tension is the same for both. I don’t think they will be more affected for been beyond us at the standings, those are things you can think of during the week, but when you are on the field no one is thinking of the standings; you only focus on trying to win.
Q: After so many loan spells, do you see yourself in order to be the leader at midfield playing at Primera División?
A: I don’t think of been the leader or been playing at Primera. For now I only want to clinch the promotion. If we do it then we will have enough time to be prepared for Primera.
Q: What rivals have you liked the most?
A: For me Celta and Valladolid are the ones having a more attractive proposal. I also liked Córdoba, which for me is the revelation of the season.
Q: Why is so hard for you to enter into the meetings, perhaps overconfidence?
A: I don’t think is overconfidence; there have been many games, especially at the Riazor, that have been resolved in the first part. Perhaps we were bad at the beginning of the last matches, but it could also be for the motivation of the rival as everybody sees the match before Depor as the most important one of the year. The matches last 90 minutes and the important thing is to carry away with them.
Q: Do you feel more the rivalry with Celta as you were born in A Coruña?
A: It’s more special as you live it since you were a child, but I believe that any player, no matter he wasn’t born in Vigo or A Coruña, would love to play the game.
Q: Are you envy to see Celta playing with nine Galicians on the field?
A: No. We also have several B squad players at the team, and more will come from behind. The important thing is that every day there are more Galicians at both teams, and that’s a good signal, because the youth teams are working.
Q: Who is the player, besides Valerón, that has surprised you the most during your career?
A: For me it is Valerón. But I also remember Mauro Silva, though I only shared a few training sessions with him; also Viqueira, who was a reference for me in Jérez; I learned a lot from him.
Q: What are the comments of the players regarding the attendances to the Riazor?
A: Well, that’s spectacular. We all comment that there’s a great environment, even better that some stadiums at Primera. So, the fans should be sharing the merits for the good numbers had at the Riazor.