Orlandi’s Monday

Cyprus, a new adventure

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LA VERSIÓN EN CASTELLANO, AQUÍ

From Blackpool to Anorthosis, from the north of England to Cyprus. A change I would have never guessed, one that is convincing me more and more day by day, though. It was the right moment. ‘You hook on here and stay for ten years or you will want to leave in two months‘, Roberto Martinez said to me when I landed on Swansea and my British adventure began. It has not been a decade but almost. When I look back I have got no regrets, no matter the good or bad moments… and taking into account that I could write a very interesting book about my last season in Blackpool.

No regrets about my Blackpool period because I learnt a lot and I met terrific and devoted supporters who don’t deserve what is happening there. I didn’t want to tell anything about my leaving before because I have never liked controversy. A clause of my contract stated that I could go free in case of relegation and having completed 2,070 minutes on the pitch. Despite of them not allowing me to play the last two matches, I have already fulfilled that time.

So I had a contract but I could go. Due to the way I am, I chose to leave and to give up my salary in spite of not having a team. I had to leave, I needed it. I could stay and keep on getting my wages while waiting an offer, but I don’t like to cheat anyone, much less a club in a so strange situation. Honestly: I have a bad taste in my mouth for the fans, but I had no strength to stay.

The day after the end of the season I got an offer from a Championship club, and two more during that week. I chose to solve my situation with Blackpool before committing myself with anybody and I lost those options.

I didn’t know how but I ended up running along Vilanova without a sure thing, not knowing where I was going to be, watching how other teams started the preseason and weighed down with a situation I wish nobody. They reached me to play at the Italian Serie B, there was something from France and sort of an offer from the new Indian league. And some inconclusive callings from England.

One day my friend Fede Bessone, who I played in Swansea with, told me he had signed with Prat. We were chatting about it and finally I got a permission to train with them. They are a fourth category club with a Champions League heart. It’s not just because of Pedro Dolera —a magnificent coach— and the quality of the team. Humanely speaking, they should envy nobody. On the contrary, a lot of clubs should learn from Prat. I will be forever in debt with that club, players and coach because they were there when I started to sink. I was there for two weeks and suddenly I had the opportunity to train with Bolton.

I was a whole week in Bolton along with a great quality squad, well managed by Neil Lennon. Maybe I arrived late or something went wrong… I don’t know. The thing is when Anorthosis called I had no doubts. I wanted to feel myself a footballer. I could have waited with no rush because I had no contract and I wasn’t bound to any market closing time, but I decided to go to Cyprus. They called me and sent a completely clear written offer and everything was closed in just one day. From the 14º in Bolton to the 35º in Larnaka…

Deep down I feel pity for leaving England. Two promotions, two playoffs with Brighton and yes, a relegation. But I leave with a clear conscience and the proud of giving everything until the last day. I know that nobody in Swansea, Brighton or Blackpool can argue about my devotion. And apart from my work, I leave a lot of good friends.

It has been an unforgettable experience. One thing is for sure: I will come back to the English football some day, weather as a player (years go by, though, and I don’t know if the opportunity will arise) or a coach.

I am in Cyprus now, where I count 29 Spanish players at First Division. In Anorthosis I met Toni Calvo again (we were together in Barça B). Thomas Christiansen is coaching AEK, Albert Serrán y Urko (another great friend) are in APOEL… Football here is much more serious that you can imagine if you don’t know it…

The Anorthosis aim is to steal the Cypriot league throne from the APOEL. It’s quite a challenge and I love challenges, no matter you can’t always fulfill them. There is a lot of preassure, which I like, and the supporters are awesome. I made my debut last Sunday. After four months I am not at one hundred per cent, but I played well for 67 minutes and we won for 3-0. We are leaders! Not so bad, isn’t it?

I am sure that I will be on fire in two weeks. Moreover, my family arrives next week and I’m thrilled about it. It’s been a month without them! They will enjoy the weather and the people from Cyprus as much as I do… and this adventure we begin.

We will be in touch, my friends, now from Cyprus but without forgetting (how could I?) England.

Vamooooooooos!!!

Translated by Chus Abascal.

Like a bad end to a movie

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The end. This is the best news of the season. No one could imagine it was going to be like this back in August. It didn’t take me long to realise how difficult it was going to be, but I never thought it would get that bad. It finished in a way which is very difficult to understand for someone who hasn’t lived the day to day life of the club. People who know the club well will understand and respect the indignation shown by our fans. No words are needed.

As I’m writing this, it’s Sunday afternoon, Chelsea has just won the Premiership and I am on my way home trying to make my dad understand what happened yesterday. Just after the second half of our game against Huddersfield started, the fans invaded the pitch. I was atonished, watching it from the stands because I wasn’t even selected for this game, but that is another matter. I saw old people, young people and kids running out on to the pitch which I don’t think that is the best way to end our season as this will not bring good memories to the young children and I feel responsible for this as I have been part of this team. I feel really sorry because, as I said a while ago, apart from being a professional player I love this game and I remember my childhood at the grounds of Barça, Espanyol, Europa… Football has always been part of my life and I can see the situation from both sides.

It is good that it was a peaceful demonstration and no one was hurt but this is the time for some people to reflect on what has happened. I have my own opinion and I hope you understand if I don’t speak freely right now, but it was a very sad Saturday in Blackpool’s history and I hope that marks a before and after and I hope next year is better. I wish that wholeheartedly because of the club and most importantly because of the fans.

We have just gone pass London on our way to the south, to the Eurotunnel. My dad is driving for a while (fingers crossed) and I’m just looking at the notes I had made to write this column. I haven’t needed a holiday this much for a long time. I want to completely switch off and put my thoughts in order. This has been the season in which I have slept the least, I have suffered the most and surely the one I have enjoyed the least. When I left Bloomfield on Saturday, I couldn’t help but looking at the fans and it hurted seeing my colleagues on the pitch trying to give them something to cheer for. I realised then that everything has been that bad that there isn’t any consolation for them.

That’s why, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank the fans for the respect and love that I have felt. When you win it is easy to receive this but when you lose it is much harder and it even becomes embarrassing for us. It has been a full weekend. Our “party”, the boxing match that Mayweather won against Pacquiao (obviously my favourite was again the loser), the eight Barça goals in Córdoba (I watched the highlights at night and what a festival it was!), Chelsea’s title, Bornemouth’s Championship win (congratulations) and the Moto GP that, unfortunately I couldn’t watch this time. However, all of this is relative when you hear the news of Rio Ferdinand’s wife passing away. She was only 36, she had 3 kids and a whole life ahead of her. Cancer took her away, there is nothing worse in a family than having to go through something like this.

A couple of weeks ago a friend of a very good friend of mine also died in Barcelona from cancer. He also went through the same as Rio with his first wife who died of cancer age 35. I can’t even imagine the pain that they have to endure and I would like to send my wholehearted commiserations to Elena in Barcelona and to Rio and his family in London. I know their strength will help them get through this.

It’s hard to carry on writing after something like this. Life has to be enjoyed to the limit because you don’t know what is waiting for you…

I talked a bit about Chelsea earlier, but what made me happy watching the Premiership this weekend was the goals from Jordi Gómez and Leo Ulloa. Jordi scored the two goals that gave Sunderland a bit of a break and Leo scored two in Leicester’s game. Amazing. They have won 5 games in the last 6 and they have gone from nearly relegated to fighting to stay up. I hope both teams manage to stay in the premiership, albeit it is not going to be easy. Although if you look at Newcastle for example, you realise how complicated football is. 9 defeats in 10 games, the last 8 have been in a row. It’s hard to understand how a team like Newcastle have been on the verge of relegation for the last few seasons. Big congratulations to Bournemouth, who will play in the Premiership for the first time in their history and they will do it as Champions. They deserve it because they have played very well. Some people have compared them to Eibar but the Cherries were in the 4th division only 5 years ago!!!

I was really surprised however to see Derby out of the play-off. I would have put all my money on them at the beginning of the season as they were clear favourites. They only managed 2 out of the last 9 points and they had only themselves to blame for this. To lose the play off place in their last game, at home and against a team who had nothing to win, is really tough. I am sure they will try again next season. I remember how they knocked me out of the semi-finals last year with Brighton and how they lost the final with a last minute goal from Bobby Zamora. What a striker he is!

On Fridy the promotion play-offs start. I will follow it from Barcelona and I think next season the Championship will be an amazing competition yet again. I hope Blackpool will be absent for just one year.

I’m still on my way to the continent. I would like to send a big hug to every single one of you who has been reading my column over the last few months. Sometimes it has been hard to write, especially when we kept losing and losing but I have tried hard to fullfill my commitment to you.

I will write again over the next few months although not regularly. I truly need to switch off.
Time to drive on the right now, not an easy thing when you are driving a british car!

Big hugs for everyone!

Translated by Alfons Vinent.

Waiting for the sun

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When you first arrive in England in mid-April you imagine yourself spending your Sundays in the garden or having a drink on the terrace… You don’t imagine yourself stuck at home, listening to the wind and spending hours hiding from a hurricane. I have been living in England for almost eight years and the sun was always shone. This year is nothing like that, not in any sense. I will be patieny and hopefully the nice weather will arrive before the end of the month.

In terms of the football, the sun did not appear for Blackpool either. For one reason or another we still do not get what we deserve. On Tuesday last week, we played a very good game against Reading, we should have won, we dominated the game, created chances … and in the end they equalised with a goal that would win a prize in the TV program Candid Camera. Good old Darren O’Dea tried to clear the ball away under pressure from Yakubu, however, with such bad luck, the ball hit our right back Grant Hall on his face. The result? A Reading equaliser just 26 seconds into the second half and an injury for Grant when he twisted his ankle falling to the ground.

This only happens to us. I mentioned Yakubu. As I explained earlier with Gudjohnsen, in this league you find really quality players. I remember when I was playing for Swansea I met Michel Salgado when we went to Blackburn, who did not play because the club didn’t want to have to extend his multimillion dollar contract automatically by allowing him to play the necessary number of games. It was cold as hell and what should have been bad weather for a Nigerian was clearly helping him because Yakubu scored four goals by himself. It’s been three years of that and physically he is not the same but nevertheless he is still a rock.

Before starting the game I noticed Joe Lewis’ shirt. It was signed and I thought he was going to do a raffle after the game (something quite common in England ). It turns out that no, he had not even noticed or knew anything about it and when he tried to get another one he was told there were none left. It was funny because he tried to put a plaster over the writing to cover it and it looked even more funny. Things like that however, details without apparent importance, make a difference in a club. There are details that should be improved as a club. A small thing? Probably, but still not a normal thing for a championship club.

Joe ended up injured in the end, just like Grant. What bad luck! To make things worse Wolves managed to recover Michael Jacobs, a smashing lad who is beginning to show what he’s capable of. I hope he does well in the future because he has lots of potential.

On Saturday at Ipswich it was more of the same. We started well, I scored a good goal thanks to a great assist from Cameron, and we lost. In part, this was thanks to my mistake which helped lead to their second goal. It was an error without explanation. ‘The pitch condition, the bounce of the ball, it came from a rebound‘… Excuses do not sit well with me. Unfortunately sometimes we make inexplicable errors and that happened to me. I have to take responsibility, accept it and move on. The worst is that we equalized again and finally conceded 3-2 due to another silly play. It is the story of this season. When the league is finished I will look at all the results and I shudder to think of the points that we have lost in, top ut it mildly, a stupid fashion. Maybe we would not have avoided relegation but we would be in a different position, that is for sure.

On Tuesday we are travelling to Derby. At the start of the season I would have bet on them to win the title because they have a very balanced team with great players and play very serious and strong football. Now they are fifth, struggling to make the playoffs and having a hard time. We’ll go with the intention of giving them a scare but it will be a particularly difficult game because of what’s at stake for them.

Yesterday I ended my weekend on the couch enjoying the Manchester derby. I expected a good game and it was… Although City disappointed me. I do not know why but they have struggled in the last three months and if Liverpool win at Newcastle today they will threaten City’s fourth place spot. United are starting to get Van Gaal’s carácter and Blind will give them lots, Mata is spectacular and the team as a unit has grown.

Surely they are in a different league than ours. Blackpool live in a very different reality and what we must do is finish the season with the best possible image. We owe it to our people. We owe them much more than that of course…

Translated by Alfons Vinent.

It had to be Gudjohnsen

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And Gudjohnsen appeared… Now I remember last May, when the Champions League started to slip through Atlético de Madrid‘s fingers because of Ramos‘ goal at minute 93. Nothing to do, of course, but that comes to my mind when I think about what happened to us in Bolton. We had it in our hands, we were almost touching it… and Gudjohnsen emerged out of the blue to steal our first away victory, that what we had fought for. Guddy is not already in his prime, but he’s that kind of player who always knows where and when to be.

We played well, we worked, we fought, we devoted ourselves and we were solidary. Both teams had opportunities and could win or lose but the feelings are positive when I think about it. Last Saturday, after the match, I was sad and pissed off, as everyone in the team, but if we analyze it calmly we should feel satisfied because we are keeping our dignity and proud at this end of season. We are another team and that’s indeed a lot.

Returning to Gudjohnsen, we happened to meet while I was at Barça B. We didn’t have so much contact because most of the times I trained with the first team the international players weren’t there and he hasn’t missed a match with Island since he started to walk. I was thinking of say hello to him at the end of the match but I reject the idea when he scored the draw goal.

I know my match was not brilliant. I had no clarity with the ball, which is precisely what I never miss, so I took the right way: to run and to work for my partners. Years ago, I learnt you must double your efforts when it’s not your day. Be solidary and help. And I did it. At least, we’re playing again tomorrow, at home against Reading, and I die to play well and enjoy. And I want to win.

Win. We need to include this word again into the club’s mentality because I’m fed up with losing and I hate to give the impression we are a team of losers. The day I start a match thinking “there’s nothing we can do”, I will turn around and go home.

I’ve had a particular satisfaction, a remarkable thing considering the season. The ‘Four Four Two‘ magazine have made a survey to decide the best 50 players in Championship, League One and League Two this year. And they have published the list of those who didn’t enter the list by inches. A friend of mine called me yesterday to tell me I was among these, in the 54th position, which is at least a recognition of my work.

During last week, I was surprised with the critics to Spanish Team for their defeat against Netherlands. It seems like they should win always, as if winning two European Cups in a row was a piece of cake. Spain is in renovation but I can’t understand some things I have read. In some ways, it’s bound to FC Barcelona‘s renovation. They have an idea and a very specific football who granted to them all the honours, something that was taken to the national team, and now they both are in a change process.

Football is made of cycles but that’s the way we Latins are: when you win so much, you don’t know how to lose and any defeat is hard to bear. What happened in Brazil was terrible to us, sure, but it’s not a reason to attack the team the way they do.

I was delighted to watch the Italy vs England match. I like the azurra. We were used to see them under the crossbar, defending with clenching teeth, but now they play the ball well. And England was not any less with a great Carrick. England is like Spain before winning the 2008 European Cup to me. If you look at them player by player you realize it’s a great team… but they always misses something. And sometimes it’s a question of bad luck.

Last week someone from the PFA came to give us the ballot papers to vote for our team of the year, best young Premier player and best player. I vote for Harry Kane because it’s difficult to make a better season. I still remember playing against him when he was in Leicester and he couldn’t be always a starter… Now he dashes in the Premier League and with the national team. A proof that football is very strange and sometimes unfair.

My Championship team of the year has got a bit of everything. I will be sincere: some friends of mine occupy several places, but I think I’m fair in my choices. I could not choose other wingers than Calderon and Bruno Saltor although I had to change of wing one of them. For the rest, I guided myself by the sensations I had in the pitch. Michel Antonio (Forest) and Matt Richie (Bornemouth) had to be there, as Gary Hooper (Norwich), maybe not the best striker of the season but great against us. Wes Hoolahan is also included in a pretty offensive team. I tried to be fair because I don’t like to make fun of these things. And yes, I’ve voted two friends as best wingers… but they haven’t got rival in the category.

To finish off I’m making you jealous. Last week was not special… but the 1.5 kilogram chop we had my friend Adam El Abd and I was historical. Such a chop in the north of England! And in the company of a great guy who I spent a great time with in Brighton. He is playing at the Bury and I think he deserves to play in a better category.

That’s the way football is…

See you tomorrow at Bloomfield Road. Happy Easter and…

Vamoooooooossss!!!

A lump in my throat

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Hi Friends. I am writing from Barcelona where I have a few hours left before flying back to Manchester to play the last few games of the league.

Perhaps some would think that the way we are at the moment, nothing else matters but I believe the last few games could determine the way Blackpool will tackle the next season. Out of the last 70 games we might have won around 7 and this is a clear indication of the dynamic of this club over the last year and a half. Therefore to give a good image and play some good games in the last bit of the season is, in my opinion, very important for the future.

Last week we found out about the airplane tragedy in the french Alps. I find it difficult to talk about this because these are things that touch you. I flew down to Barcelona on Sunday to sign the purchase of my apartment and I was planning to fly back on Monday morning. Due to a timetable misunderstanding I missed the flight back and I had to rush to buy a new ticket to fly that same night or the day after. The option to fly to Manchester via Dusseldorf came up, the same flight that crashed. I have to say that I was never considering taking that flight because I always prefer to fly to London, rent a car and drive to Manchester. But just thinking about it gives me a lump in my throat. When you find out about all the people who indeed took that plane, then things get worse. Sometimes life is too cruel as no one deserves to end like this. We live in a sick world… On Tuesday I was late for the training session. I had to pay a fine but at least I got there. Others couldn’t. May they rest in peace.

On Wednesday we trained at St Annes’ beach. I had never trained there before and we wore long spikes boots, it was great fun, although we had to work really hard and had another very tough physical session on Thursday before enjoying 3 days rest. It is good to see that the coaches are still working hard despite the position we are in and that no one surrenders.

Those three days felt really short and with all the paperwork for the apartment we didn’t have enough hours to finish everything. We have decided that the apartment will need work done and realised it will be hard work to deal with the concierge, as he is an old style man and not very nice. I hope he likes football…

Since all the family was in Barcelona, including Jordi and Berta who came from Sunderland, we celebrated Norah’s birthday for the third time in 2 weeks! She will end up confused and will think she has celebrated her 3rd, 4th and 5th birthdays!! But that is what happens when you live far away from your family…

I have been able to recharge my batteries and back in the UK I will give everything until the end of the season. To begin with, I am very motivated with out next trip to Bolton. It is a nice stadium, we are neighbours and the atmosphere will be good for sure. I hope things work out well for me, as they did against Leeds and I hope we are lucky enough to win an away game, something that we deserve and have been waiting for for a while. I don’t want to finish the season without winning one.

Going back to the rest days, on Friday afternoon the friend who convinced me to write this weekly column, invited me to watch his son’s training session in Barcelona. I would have loved to have had a son to go and watch him training and to be one of those dads who suffer watching his son, like mine did. I had a good time with him, having a chat and watching his son Jordi on the pitch doing the drills that I still remember doing, listening to the instructions of the coach and the players dad’s standing in the stands deciding what to do to win the next game. I had a great time and coming back home in the car, I even dared to give the boy a bit of advice for which he promised to dedicate me a goal on Sunday. Well, he didn’t score but they won 1-0 and he was given the assist for the goal. The kid looks promising not like his dad…

By the way, I told you not to trust my predictions. I said it was not worth it to watch a F1 race a Mercedes was too superior and yesterday Vettel and Ferrari proved me wrong. I have to admit I am not good at predicitions.

We still have a week left in Blackpool to try to finish the season the best way possible. Bolton on Saturday, as I said, we will try our best again. We must win.

Big hugs!

Come ooooooon!

Translated by Alfons Vinent.

Un parón y una sonrisa

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parón

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Es domingo y le doy la bienvenida al parón internacional con los brazos abiertos. Creo que mi cuerpo no habría soportado jugar otro partido en una semana. Para salir de la cama he tenido serios problemas y no estoy exagerando. Cuando me lesioné contra el Forest creo que estaba en mi mejor momento físico de la temporada. No había hecho pretemporada, los malos resultados no nos permitieron entrenar de forma más pausada y tranquila para poder alcanzar la forma, y la verdad es que me costó encontrarla. La verdad es que me costó encontrarme a mi mismo. Cuando me saqué de encima todos los demonios y empecé a jugar como sé tuve que parar. Cuatro semanas, no parecen demasiado tiempo pero en deporte de élite os puedo asegurar que es una eternidad.

Un entreno y 90 minutos eternos en Bournemouth. Un día de recuperación, otro entreno y partido contra el Charlton el martes. Quien haya visto el resultado dirá: pobre Blackpool, siguen en caída libre. Para mi tendríamos que haber ganado sin problemas. El Charlton fue el equipo que menos problemas nos creó… ¡y nos metieron 3! Describe lo que ha sido esta temporada para nosotros. Después de ese partido estuve dos días intentando reeducar a mis piernas para enseñarles a volver a caminar. No había músculo sin agujeta. Y pensad que 90 minutos en Bloomfield Road son como 180 en un campo normal. Imaginad jugar un partido en la playa, la sensación es muy similar.

El viernes en el entreno logré que mis piernas corrieran y me sentía preparado para jugar el sábado. Siempre me gusta jugar contra el Leeds por la afición que siempre les acompaña y porque es un equipo muy competitivo. Y volví a pasármelo bien en el campo (si me olvido de la playa). Creo que en la primera parte fuimos mucho mejores y merecimos meter algún gol más. Después, otro error nos costó los tres puntos. Es alucinante y me pone de los nervios pensar cómo es posible que cometamos esta clase de errores. Pero el equipo respondió y la afición estuvo como siempre a nuestro lado. Ojalá este sea el nivel que mostremos hasta que acabe la Liga. Sin presión ya, intentar dar algo a nuestra gente.

Me alegró de manera especial ver a mi amigo Cubero de titular. José lo ha pasado realmente mal pero su profesionalidad y trabajo le han premiado con la oportunidad que merecía. Y respondió como esperaba. Nos dio trabajo, colocación, entrega, buena distribución… Yo noté su presencia en el campo porque con él tuvimos más libertad para hacer cosas y demostró que puede y tiene que ser importante para el equipo. Si veis la sonrisa que gasta en la foto podréis entender lo contento que está, por fin.

El gol fue de Gary Madine tras un paradón de Silvestri después de una falta que había lanzado yo. Hacía tiempo que no le pegaba tan bien a una falta. Curiosamente me dio por practicar un par de ellas antes del partido. Fue una pena que no entrase, pero significó el gol que es lo que realmente importa. Además fui elegido ‘Man of the match’ y aunque no ganamos me marché, al menos en ese aspecto, contento. Y así estoy ahora, que no puedo ni mover un músculo sin sentir dolor.

En casa han sido días ‘divertidos’. El jueves celebramos el tercer cumpleaños de mi hija Norah. 3 años ya que han pasado volando. Vinieron mi madre y mi cuñada Berta para estar con ella y Norah se olvidó de que tenía padre. Es de agradecer la compañía de los tuyos, especialmente para quienes vivimos lejos y no tenemos la familia cerca para ayudarte, hacerte de ‘canguro’ alguna vez y poder ir al cine. Creo que la última película que vi en el cine era en blanco y negro. Con eso está todo dicho.

Pero que tu hija pase de ti olímpicamente porque están aquí su ‘nonna‘ y su tieta pues bueno, hace la gracia que hace. Además la sutileza con la que se desmarca de ti es encantadora. Se me ocurrió cantarle el cumpleaños feliz nada más despertarse, a lo que correspondió con un cariñoso: ‘papi, cállate, hablas demasiado alto’ A lo que prosiguió con un menosprecio muy sutil de las zapatillas de estar por casa que había elegido para la ocasión. Así es Norah, o la tomas o la dejas. Yo la tomo y de hecho la amo con locura..

Dicho esto, fuimos a comer todos a Manchester, pasamos un día en familia de lo más agradable y por la tarde abrimos los regalos. Un tutú de bailarina, unos zapatos de bailarina, unas medias de bailarina… Mis peores pesadillas volvieron a mi cabeza. Volví a revivir esos agónicos momentos en los que, obligado a la fuerza, iba a ver las funciones de ballet de mi hermana. Aquellas interminables tres horas de tutús y bailes. Además me era imposible reconocerla entre una multitud de niñas. Un auténtico infierno. Pues bien, creo que con Norah voy a tener que volver a vivir eso. Emma por ahora está más centrada en el tema de la alimentación. Básicamente se lo come todo. Para cuando le entre el tutú igual ya es demasiado mayor para caer en las redes del ballet.

Otro regalo fueron unos patines asesinos de Peppa Pig. Sin casco ni nada. Ya os lo he dicho alguna vez. Para jugar en el Blackpool hay que ser valiente. De momento estamos consiguiendo evitar la tragedia, ha habido caídas pero la mayoría al estilo Jesús Navas, más bien fingidas que reales.

Ahora tenemos dos días libres que aprovecharé para volar a Barcelona. Un ir y volver rápido para firmar la compra de nuestro piso. Un sueño hecho realidad. No sabéis las ganas que tenía de poder tener mi propia casa en el centro de Barcelona. Os he dicho que es domingo… ¡Y hoy toca toca clásico! Llegaré por los pelos a verlo. Como me leéis los lunes, no voy a deciros quien es mi favorito para no quedar mal, o para no meter la pata. Hablaré de ello la semana que viene, con todo sabido.

Por cierto, y antes de acabar. Una cosa que quiero especialmente deciros a quienes seguís estos artículos desde Blackpool: Gaz, del Blackpool FC Gym, organiza un ‘Fitness fun day’ con el objeto de recaudar fondos para el Charity Trinity Hospice. Gaz es un tipo que vale mucho la pena y que está preparando una fiesta por todo lo alto. Será el sábado que viene, día 28, desde las 10 de la mañana y hasta las 4 de la tarde y me encantaría que no faltéis a la cita. ¡Son ocasiones que valen la pena amigos!

Nos vemos la semana que viene.

¡¡¡Vamossssss!!!

A break and a smile

por
parón

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It’s Sunday and I welcome the break for internationals with open arms. I don’t think my body would have been able to handle another game this week. I am not kidding, struggled to get out of bed. When I got injured against Forest I was playing at my best, but I hand’t had a proper pre-season and the bad results haven’t allow us to train in a more productive way, so I struggled to get back my optimal physical condition. I struggled to find the real me. When I managed to shake off those little demons and I started to play the way I am capable of, I had to stop again. Four weeks might not look long, but for a professional footballer is an eternity.

One training session and 90 never ending minutes in Bournemouth, one recovery day and another training sesión followed by a game against Charlton on Tuesday. If you didn’t see the game you would think we are on freefall, but we should have won that game without any problems. Charlton was one of the teams who created less chances against us and they scored 3 times! This shows what the season has been for us. After that game I struggled to walk for two days as there wasn’t a loose muscle left in my body. You must remember that 90 minutes at Bloomfield Road are like 180 on a normal pitch. It’s a bit like playing a full game on a beach…

On Friday during training my legs were fine and I felt ready to play on Saturday. I always like to play against Leeds, for the fans that always travel with them and because they are a very competitive team. I again had fun in the field (or the beach) and I think in the first half we were much better and deserved to get a goal, but then yet another error cost us three points. It is amazing and makes me nervous thinking how we could be making such silly errors. But the team responded and the crowd was as always on our side. Hopefully this will be the level that we show until the end of the League. No pressure anymore we just need to try to make our fans happy.

I was especially glad to see my friend Cubero in the first eleven. Jose has had a very tough time but his professionalism and work have rewarded him with the chance he deserved and he responded as expected. He worked hard, pass the ball well, was well positioned on the pitch etc… I noticed his presence on the field because with him we had more freedom to do things and he showed is important to the team. If you see the smile on the picture you will realised how happy he finally is.

The goal was scored by Gary Madine after a great save by Silvestri and a free kick taken by me. I hadn’t taken good free kicks for a while. Funnily enough I felt like practising free kicks before the game and It was a shame it didn’t go in but it ended up in the net which is what really matters. I was also elected ‘Man of the Match‘ and although we did not win I left the ground, at least in that respect, happy. I am now stiff and all my muscles are sore…

At home there have been ‘fun’ days. On Thursday we celebrated my daughter, Norah’s, third birthday. Three years that have flown by. My mother and my sister Berta came from Barcelona to be with her and Norah forgot she had a father. It is always nice to have the company of your family, especially those who live far away and when you do not have family nearby to help or to babysit now and again. Simple things like going to the movies… I think the last movie I watch in the theater was in black and white!! That says it all.

The fact that my daughter completely ignored me because her ‘nonna‘ and ‘tieta’ are here is at least a little bit funny. Besides she was so subtle about it and that made her even more sweet. It occurred to me to sing the happy birthday first thing in the morning when she got up, to which she responded with a loving, ‘Daddy, shut up, you talk too high‘. Then she subtlely ignored the slippers i had chosen for her. This is Norah, take her or leave her. I will take her all the time and I actually love her dearly.

That said, we all went to eat in Manchester and had a most enjoyable family day and we opened the presents in the evening. A ballerina’s dress, ballerina shoes, ballerina tights… My worst nightmares came to life. I went back to relive those agonizing moments when I was forced to watch my sister at her ballet sessions. Those endless three hours of dresses and dancing. Also I could not recognize her among a crowd of girls so it was like a living hell. Well, I think with Norah I am going to have to relive that again! Emma by now is more focused on the theme of food. Basically she eats everything all time. I hope that by the time she gets interested in ballet she will be too old for it!

Another gift for Norah were some Peppa Pig’s skates. No helmet or anything, I have told you many times, to play in Blackpool you have to be brave. For now we are just preventing the tragedy, there have been falls but most Jesus Navas’ style, more diving than real.

Now that we have two days off I will take the opportunity to fly to Barcelona. I’ll fly in an out quickly to sign the purchase of our apartment. A dream come true. You can’t imagine how much I wanted to have my own house in the center of Barcelona. Today it’s Sunday and today it’s El Clásico! I will just get to Barcelona just in time to watch it. As you read my article on Monday, I will not tell you who my favourite is in case I screw up. I’ll talk about it next week…

By the way, before I finish there is one thing I want to say to all of those who follow these articles from Blackpool: Gaz, from Blackpool FC Gym, organizes a ‘Fitness fun day‘ in order to raise funds for Trinity Hospice Charity. Gaz is a really nice guy and he is preparing a great party. It will be next Saturday, the 28th, from 10 am until 4 pm and he would love to see you all there. It will be a worth while cause to party for!

See you next week.

Come ooooon!!!

Translated by Alfons Vinent.

Pride and sportmanship

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mourinho

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I don’t want to talk too much about what this week has meant for Blackpool. To begin with, I can only think about 3 things: 1st, until we are mathematically a League One team we have to keep fighting hard; 2nd, my pride as a profesional footballer won’t allow me to give up even when everybody else has given up and 3rd, to try to make people understand that Lee Clark is not to blame for the situation we are in. Has he got to asume part of the responsibility? Without a doubt, of course. He is the first one assuming that. But it is also on us, the players, the ones who get out there and play and if the results are what they are, maybe we don’t deserve better.

I can see lots of animosity towards our coach out there and I believe its not fair. Since he arrived he hasn’t stopped working hard even if you disagree with his ideas. But sometimes when someone falls when he is about to score or when we lose the ball and the opposition end up scoring a goal or we finish badly, is it his fault? Or he is to blame for us playing on a really bad pitch…I have spoken so much about the condition of our pitch that I won’t waste more time talking about it.

I have the impression that the footballers are not getting blamed for the situation that the club is in but our coach is and the reality is that things are not much different from when Riga was here. I am convinced that many of us are not bad players. I do know what kind of player I am and I feel really bad going through what we have to go through. But I don’t deserve any better now because we are all equally responsible and we have to assume our responsibilities. We could bring Guardiola or Mourinho in but if we don’t raise our game on the pitch, miracles won’t happen.

Where have you ended up? A friend of mine asked me last week. My worst season in the Championship before was an eighth place with Swansea but despite what has happened since August I feel honoured to be a Blackpool player because the greatness of a club is not only measured by success but also by what this club means to the community and I have realised, day by day, how attach people are to the team. In Spain, we would be alone by now. That is not the case here and that says a lot.

I mentioned Mourinho earlier. I used to be a fan of the Mourinho who made Chelsea a big team, of the one who won the Champions league with Inter and even of the one at the beginning of his spell at Madrid. But despite being a great coach, I have despised his attitude for a while now. His campaigns against other coaches, against the referees, the commitees… That victimisation, his propaganda campaign and his incapacity to lose with sportmanship are things I cannot comprehend. Someone who has won that much shouldn’t look for enemies where there are only rivals and he shouldn’t turn any game that he loses into a battle against the world.

He won the Capital One cup against Tottenham yesterday. Good. Congratulations but that won’t make me forget about what he said 10 days ago to my friend Ashley Barnes. How does he dare to insinuate that a football player is a criminal? Him! I will not recall past episodes with some of his former players because I am a footballer and I know more than anybody that what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch, but he was completely out of order.

Ashley has lots of character and he plays to the limit like most players in England, but he has never tried to harm another player. His tackle against Matic was a nasty one, I agree, but everybody should remember that it happened when he just got to the ball a tenth of a second too late, late enough to catch Matic. But today I want to use the video and tomorrow I don’t. It all depends on who would benefit…Not very nice and certainly very arrogant. Funnily enough Mourinho didn’t see one of his players stamp on Messi’s foot in Madrid a while ago. End of story.

Well end of story? Not really. Who is Mourinho to demand a ban to Barnes? Or to say that Matic is lucky to be able to play football again? It is the same person who sends his players to a war in the Spanish cup final against Barça? I would go to the end of the world for Ashley, I know what kind of person he is and I am really annoyed at the campaign against him, orchestrated by Mourinho. To label someone a criminal who humbily plays his first season in the Premiership in a modest club like Burnley and knowing the repercussions that his words would have, is utterly out of order.

He should waste his energy in winning titles. They just got the Capital one and most probably will win the Premier. He will continue to be an excellent coach but he could do with starting to behave like a sportsman. To put himself on the level of the English sportsmen.

They can also win the Champions league of course but for that Chelsea will have top lay bordering on perfection. They are favourites against PSG but after watching Barça playing City or the superiority of Madrid or the good season Bayern are having, I think it will be really be over for them in the quarter finals. I can’t overlook the fantastic first half of Barça in Manchester. That first half was a sublime lesson. Brutal but sublime. Pellegrini was brave but giving Barca superiority in the midfield is suicidal. When you see the accelerations of Messi football becomes art. He made Clichy look slow and that says it all. City really struggled to recover the ball and when they had it the pitch seemed huge. They have Kun Agüero and they will have Toure for the return leg but this Barça, especially the one of the first half, is the clear favourite.

I am really bad at predicting but my overall favourite is Bayern Munich. It is true that things will change depending on who has to play who in the quarter finals but if everything goes to plan, I see Bayern as the favourite team. One of the reasons being the fact that they have a more comfortable position in their league than Barca or Madrid or even Chelsea as in the Premier any team can give you a hard time.

Our particular Championship match takes place in Birmingham on Wednesday. I guess no one will bet on us but we will keep fighting until the end. You can all count on that.

Come ooooooon!!!

Translated by Alfons Vinent.

Me aburro

por

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No hay nada peor para un futbolista que lesionarse cuando está disfrutando en el campo. Hacía tiempo que temía que la ‘alfombra’ de Bloomfield Road me provocaría algo y acabó pasando. Dentro de lo malo aún tuve suerte… ¡Pero qué aburrimiento! Yo quiero balón, correr y reír en los entrenamientos, cansarme, bromear y discutir. Estudiar cómo hacerle daño al próximo rival. Sentir todas esas sensaciones que durante una semana he tenido que dejar de lado.

Subirme al coche cada mañana sabiendo que lo que me espera es tratamiento y poco más ha sido agobiante y terriblemente aburrido. Pero lo he llevado de la mejor manera posible. Mañana no podré jugar en Griffin Park pero estoy convencido de estar a punto para recibir al Wigan el sábado. Será un partido mayúsculo porque es de los que cuentan doble y espero que mis compañeros mantengan en Brentford las sensaciones de Blackburn porque esa es la manera de mirar de cara a esta montaña que tenemos por delante.

¿Quién podía imaginar que a estas alturas el Wigan estaría donde está? Con la plantilla que tenían en verano contaban en todas las quinielas para el ascenso pero cuando las cosas se tuercen existen unos condicionantes invisibles que te hunden. Nosotros lo sabemos bien… Pero dentro de la tragedia me vengo arriba viendo que somos capaces de competir. Necesitamos sumar de tres en tres pero el punto del sábado en Blackburn me demostró aún estamos agarrados a ese sueño.

Creo que nuestro gran problema fuera de casa ha sido cuando nos han marcado rápido. El equipo acusaba el golpe de manera exagerada y no había manera. Bueno, no solo cuando se nos adelantaban. Encajar un gol era como un torpedo mortal porque nos hundíamos. Pero cuando Rodhes marcó el sábado al cuarto de hora el equipo reaccionó. Dio la cara, peleó y sobrevivió. Es un ejemplo de que el equipo está trabajando bien. Si ganásemos en Brentford… No habría mejor manera de meter el miedo en el cuerpo a los que están en el alambre, demostrarles que desde ahí abajo viene un grupo herido y orgulloso. Porque el orgullo nadie puede quitárnoslo.

El fútbol es un estado de ánimo y cambia de la noche a la mañana. El viernes me llamaron desde Barcelona, del diario SPORT, para preguntarme mi opinión sobre el partido del Barça en Manchester. Mantengo lo que dije a pesar de que los resultados del sábado cambie la opinión de algunos. Los que vivimos el día a día en un vestuario conocemos la realidad íntima del fútbol. Es difícil de explicar pero por mucho que el City se venga arriba por su goleada al Newcastle y por ver al Barça con dudas, nada cambia la sensación de tener enfrente a Messi, al señor Messi, a Neymar, a Suárez y demás.

Además, y ojo a eso, será el regreso de Suárez a Inglaterra y Luis aquí es como un demonio. Se siente como pez en el agua en estos ambientes, los conoce muy bien y disfruta. Pienso que la defensa del City sufrirá si el Barça es capaz de recuperar sus mejores sensaciones, porque a la que combine como hizo en los partidos anteriores, puede volver loco a cualquiera. Claro que conociendo el ambiente en Barcelona… Seguro que en el entorno hay dudas y pesa más un resultado malo que once buenos. Se pasa de héroe a villano en 90 minutos aunque los 990 anteriores hayan sido excelentes.

Claro que a la larga el trabajo bien hecho te ofrece la recompensa. Y ahí tengo que mirar hacia Gales y proclamar mi alegría por el Swansea. En agosto ganó por primera vez en su historia al United en Old Trafford y el sábado le volvió a ganar. Nunca le había vencido dos veces en la Liga, el ‘double’ que se dice en Inglaterra y merece todos los elogios. Los Swans han metido mano a un rival que maneja un presupuesto gigantesco en comparación y lo han hecho con fútbol. El club está creciendo sin hacer ruido y mi amigo Garry Monk es responsable absoluto de ello. Merece todas las felicitaciones porque en poco más de un año ha devuelto las mejores sensaciones al equipo… ¡Aunque le pediría que ponga más a Ángel Rangel! Es difícil verle en el banquillo pero el ‘Gaffer’ tiene que tomar decisiones y en ocasiones es difícil. Yo le sigo viendo como nuestro capitán, ese tío bromista y líder y lo comprobé cuando coincidimos el pasado verano. Mantenemos ese feeling que debe tener en el vestuario y conociéndole estoy seguro que le debe doler dejar a Ángel o a León en el banquillo…

Como me he pasado el fin de semana fuera del campo he tenido tiempo de fijarme en varios partidos. Y de entre todos me he quedado con el del Brighton. Por una razón en particular: mi hija Emma está superfeliz y orgullosa porque resulta que su padrino se ha reencarnado en Ulloa. ¡Dos goles le metió el tío el sábado al Birmingham! Y aún hay quien habla de la edad como un hándicap. Calderón, mi Calde, nuestro Calde, ha hecho de la experiencia su mejor arma y no entiendo como es que aún no le han renovado. Esa banda derecha que forma con Bruno debería ser fija en el Brighton al menos tres años más porque su rendimiento es fenomenal. Siempre está entre los mejores, menos cuando va a la peluquería porque eso no hay quien lo arregle. Pero en lo que es fútbol, es uno de los jugadores más regulares que he conocido.

Tengo ganas de correr y comprobar que estoy en buena disposición para mirar a los ojos a mi entrenador y que vea que puede contar conmigo el sábado. Las sensaciones son buenas y el aburrimiento me ha provocado esta adrenalina especial. Como os he dicho al principio, no hay nada peor que sufrir una lesión pequeña y quedarte fuera del campo durante dos semanas cuando estás enchufado. Eso provoca que multipliques tus ganas de jugar y recuperar el tiempo perdido.

Recuerdo que en agosto perdimos en Wigan por un gol de Oriol Riera, el único que marcó antes de volver a España para jugar en el Deportivo, donde ha vuelto a sentirse futbolista tras su mala experiencia en el DW Stadium. Ahora es titular fijo y me pregunto si no les faltó paciencia con un tipo que llegaba nuevo a Inglaterra y se equivocaron con él. Se tiene poca paciencia en Inglaterra con muchos jugadores que llegan, llegamos, de una Liga extranjera. Yo lo sufrí en Swansea y hay varios ejemplos más. Por eso me alegré por Bojan, que tuvo el apoyo de Hughes en el Stoke City para convertirse en trascendental hasta que sufrió esa maldita lesión.

La afición siempre te ofrece su confianza, pero los clubes y los entrenadores no suelen tener esa paciencia necesaria. Si no te van a dar esa paciencia… quizá deberían pensárselo mejor antes de ficharte. Ese fue mi talón de Aquiles en Swansea, la manera en la que empecé. Me costó adaptarme y siempre nadé a contracorriente para convencer a la gente. En Brighton tuve la suerte de contar con el apoyo indiscutible de Poyet y me demostré capacitado para jugar en Inglaterra. Y lo sigo pensando. Desde luego.

Espero volver la semana que viene con buenas noticias y ojalá que cada vez más cerca de una orilla que se antoja difícil de alcanzar, pero no imposible.. Como he dicho antes, este deporte es impredecible.. El deporte rey, como le gustaba llamarle a Vicente Rodríguez, seguramente el mejor con el que he jugado en Inglaterra.

Un abrazo a todos.

¡¡¡Vamooooooossssss!!!

Getting bored

por

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There is nothing worse for a footballer that to get injured when you are enjoying your game. I had been wondering for a while whether the condition of Bloomfield Road’s pitch would get someone injured and it happened in the end. Considering what could have happened, I was lucky though….But how boring! I want the ball, I want to run, to laugh in the training sessions, to get tired, to joke and to argue. I want to study how to hurt our rivals. I want to feel all these sensations that I had to put aside all week.

Getting in the car every morning knowing that what awaited me was just treatment has been very annoying and terribly boring. But I have tried my best. I won’t be able to play at Griffin Park tomorrow but I am convinced I will be able to play against Wigan on Saturday. It will be a huge game for us and I hope my teammates will be able to maintain, in Brentford, the good sensations we had in Blackburn as this is the only way of facing such a huge climb we have ahead of us.

Who could imagine that Wigan would be where they are right now? They have a great team and in the summer they were solid candidates for promotion but when things go wrong there are so many aspects that make you go down. We know that very well but I am still confident that we will be able to compete. We need to add points 3 by 3 but the point in Blackburn showed us that we are holding on to that dream.

I think that our biggest problem away from home is the fact that we concede early goals. The team gets extremely affected by an early goal and we are not able to overcome that. But when Rodhes scored on Saturday the team reacted after just 15 minutes. We fought and we survived. It is an example that the team is working well. If only we win in Brentford…That would be the best way to scare our rivals, to show them we are still there, wounded but dangerous. Because no one can take away our pride.

Football is a state of mind and can change from day to day. On Friday I had a call from Barcelona, from the SPORT newspaper to ask for my opinion about Barça’s game in Manchester. I maintain what I said despite the fact that some people will change their mind after Saturday’s result. Those who live the day to day of the changing room know the reality of football. It is hard to explain but despite City’s reaction after their 5-0 against Newcastle and despite Barça’s doubts after their loss, nothing changes the sensation of having to face Messi, Neymar, Suárez and the rest…

Moreover, and watch this space, it will be Suárez’s return to England and Luis here is like a little devil. He loves the English atmosphere, knows English football very well and he enjoys it. I believe City’s defense will struggle if Barça is capable of recovering their best feelings, because if they start passing the ball as they have been doing in the past few games, they could make anybody go crazy. Saying that and knowing Barça that well, I am sure there will be some doubts and sometimes one bad result weighs more than eleven good ones. You go from hero to villain in 90 minutes.

Saying that, good work bears fruit in the long term. I have to look towards Wales when I say that and proclaim my happiness for Swansea. In August they beat United at Old Trafford for the first time ever and this Saturday they beat them again. They had never beaten them twice in the League, never managed the double and for this they deserve all the credit. The Swans have defeated a big team with a much bigger budget and they have done so with good football. The club is growing slowly and quietly and my friend Garry Monk is absolutey responsible of all this. He deserves all the congratulations because in just over a year he has returned the best sensations to the team. Although I would ask him to play Angel Rangel a bit more! It is hard for me to see him on the bench, but the Gaffer has to make decisions and on ocassions these are hard. I still see him as our captain, a joker and a leader. We still have that connection as I managed to find out when I met him last summer and I am sure that it’s not easy for him to leave Angel or Leon on the bench…

As I have spent all weekend off the pitch I have had time to pay attention to other teams. Amongst them all I have picked Brighton, for a very particular reason: my daughter Emma was really happy and proud beause her godfather was reincarnated in Ulloa. He scored twice on Saturday against Birmingham! Some people still talk about age being a handicap. Calderon, my Calde, our Calde, has made his experience his best weapon and I can’t understand why he hasn’t been offered a new contract yet. That left side with Bruno should be the one for Brighton for the next 3 seasons because their performance is phenomenal. Calde is always amongst the best, apart from when he goes to the barber, that is a lost cause. He is one of the most regular footballers I have ever met.

I am looking forward to running and finding out if I am in good condition, to look my coach in the eye and let him know I can play on Saturday if he wishes me to do so. The feelings are good and the boredom has raised my adrenaline. As I said before, there is nothing worse that having a small injury and having to miss two games when you are playing well. This makes you want to play more and more and to recover the lost time.

I remember that we lost in Wigan in August to an Oriol Riera’s goal, the only one he scored before returning to Spain to play with Deportivo. Since then he has been able to feel like a football player again after a bad experience at the DW Stadium. He plays all the games now and I am wondering if they didn’t have enough patience with a new player who had just arrived to England. I think in England, there is not much patience for the newcomers. I felt that at Swansea and I can think of numerous other examples. That’s why I was happy for Bojan, who had Hughes support in Stoke City, to become an important player until he had a terrible injury.

The fans normally support you but the clubs and the coaches often haven’t got that patience. Maybe they should think twice before signing foreign players… That was my problem in Swansea. It took me a while to adapt and I always had to swim against the current to convince the fans. In Brighton I was lucky enough to have the unconditional support of Poyet and I showed everybody that I was capable of playing in England. Of course.

I hope to return next week with good news and I hope we are closer to our goal. It will be difficult but not impossible. Like I said before, this sport is unpredictable. It is a beautiful game and like the best player I have played with in England, Vicente Rodriguez used to say.

Big hugs.

Come ooooooooooon!

Translated by Alfons Vinent.

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