Vales: "A call from Athletic are big words"

After passing through the benches of Retuerto and Sodupe, Óscar Vales (13-9-74) has gained experience at the controls of Gernika in the Second RFEF, maintaining his casual and brave style of play, prioritizing technique over physique.

Vales: "A call from Athletic are big words"

After passing through the benches of Retuerto and Sodupe, Óscar Vales (13-9-74) has gained experience at the controls of Gernika in the Second RFEF, maintaining his casual and brave style of play, prioritizing technique over physique. He leaves the regional club to face new adventures after almost sneaking into the promotion playoff and qualifying for the Copa del Rey: "I would like a project that would fill me up, that would let me work, that would be comfortable," slips the former midfielder of the Athletic in an interview for EL CORREO before leaving to disconnect from Menorca. Going to Lezama would fit into his future, although at the moment he assures that "he does not" handle any proposal from the pre-candidates for the June elections of Athletic or foreign.

Had you already decided to leave the Gernika bench after two and a half years at the helm?

Yes, I had quite a lot of chewing for a while, but since we were, luckily, in the fight of the season and I wanted everything to be more or less decided, and this week we no longer had anything at stake for the last match, I decided to talk with the club. I think we have already completed a beautiful, wonderful cycle. I am delighted to have worked for Gernika, which is a fantastic club and where they have let me work at ease. A beautiful stage is over and with hope for the future.

A journey full of positive results for Gernika.

Yes, what I have is a very clear conscience. We took it two and a half years ago in position 10 in the Third Division and we left it installed in the Second RFEF. A very complicated period for everyone unfortunately due to the pandemic, which was not easy, with the death of a player (Gandiaga) along the way, with many complicated things. Despite all this, the team has always responded and we have also achieved a title (promotion to Second RFEF) that the club did not have. Athletically I am very happy. A lot of the blame lies with the players I've managed and, above all, I'm proud of the fact that they believed at all times in what we played and what we wanted to do in each game.

Vales stands out for being a courageous coach who prioritises the raked, dominating game, without balls..., is it something non-negotiable in his next destination on the bench?

More than non-negotiable, it is a way in which I understand football, with which you can win more than lose. In the end, each coach has his way of playing and I like that. Also, if you only want to play and you don't get results, it doesn't help you much. The numbers, despite playing that way, are good, they're there. There are a thousand ways to play football and everyone chooses their own. I like this way of playing. I like to be the protagonist in games with the ball, but there are also times when you can't do that because there is also an opponent and you have to adapt to situations.

This season he has been on the verge of sneaking into the promotion playoff (seventh, four points behind fifth Arenas) to the First RFEF, what has he lacked to crystallize the feat?

Well, I think we've lacked a bit of freshness in the last month and a half of competition. The main thing is that we've had a lot of casualties. Güemes left us, we were left without a center forward, Álex Valiño was injured for the entire championship, Gorka Marcos was injured for five weeks, the canaries of the winter market have been unemployed for many weeks. So, in the end, we have had to use players for too many minutes, which is why they have reached this final stretch very tired. It is logical, even so they have responded. We have lacked that replacement in attack to be fresher and rush those options with more guarantees. But, despite all that, I am happy with what we have achieved. I am very happy with the group, happy with the boys because they have played wonderfully well. They have believed from the beginning to the end in what we wanted. We have been fighting against very important teams in the category with much more budget than us and that has a lot of merit.

What feelings do you have with the two on loan from Basconia who have shaped this course in Gernika: Ispizua and Eneko Delgado?

So there are the numbers. They have been two basic players for us. Igor seems like a great goalkeeper to me, he has a splendid future to be able to enjoy and achieve important things in football. He is very complete in all facets of the game. And Eneko Delgado has given us everything. For our way of playing it has been basic. He gives you a very clean ball start, he is a professional like the top of a pine tree, he trains fantastic, he is a great player. He squeezes after loss which is crazy. They have been two players who have made a great championship. They have grown a lot. I wish them the best in the future because they deserve it.

Do you see them both in the Bilbao Athletic squad next season?

I see them qualified to play for Bilbao Athletic for sure, without any doubt. They seem very good to me, very to take into account. Those who have to decide, they will choose.

Does Vales have any firm proposal, how is his future in the short term?

For now I want to take it easy, I'm going to be disconnected for a few days, resting, which have been two and a half very nice seasons, but also very hard. I have to rest mentally, and then have the mobile battery charged. For those who want to call, I am available to listen to proposals and to see if there is something that fills me.

Are you now taking refuge in Menorca?

Yes, I am going with the family to the island, which for me is sacred. We have been going to Menorca for more than twenty years and there it does disconnect. It's great.

He knows that there are elections in Athletic and that changes are coming in Lezama. He has appeared in the pools for several campaigns, especially to train Basconia... Have you had any contact with any of the pre-candidates for president?

No, no, not at all. Today I have nothing.

Would you like to enter the structure of Lezama, in its technical organization chart?

When Athletic calls you, they are big words. That call is big words and who wouldn't like it..., but at the moment I have absolutely nothing. I am going to disconnect for a few days, aware of everything, of course, but I am going to forget about football a little to be calm with the family.

And have you considered training abroad as an alternative?

I would like a project that would fulfill him, that would let me work, that would make him feel comfortable and would listen to everyone. I have no problem leaving, staying, absolutely nothing binds me. If the project that catches my attention is from abroad, I will gladly attend to it.


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