Manu Fuster faces a new season with the same ambition with which the previous one ended: achieving promotion with Las Palmas. The midfielder reviews the preseason, analyzes the arrival of Ruben de la Barreraand points out the youth player who has surprised him the most this summer.
Ask. What do you like most and least about the preseason?
Answer. All footballers complain about preseasons. If we could we would remove them and start the first day of the league (laughs). But hey, we know that they are necessary to load our legs for what is to come. The heat and what you suffer is the worst thing I have experienced. But it is also a nice moment to meet your teammates and get to know the coach’s idea. It is a period of adaptation. There is a very good atmosphere and it is going very well with the new ideas that Rubén wants to convey to us.
Q. You know the coach well from his time in Albacete, has he changed a lot?
R. I would tell you that he is still the same, nothing has changed. The idea I had of him is the same; from a coach who demands you, who takes you to the limit, who asks you to be brave and dare. What he wants is to control the games, which is why he not only affects the physical or tactical aspect, but also the mental one. He’s working on those three things.
Rafa Cruz surprised me by his self-confidence
Q. Have you seen the video that went viral in which the coach explains the adjacent positions with respect to the holder?
R. Yes, I have once made a joke about it (laughs). That video is focused on the training of coaches, but Rubén with the footballer is simple, direct and knows how to explain what he wants in a clear way. He is much closer, a joker… He is a coach who, due to his risky idea, needs to reach the footballer very well, and I think he achieves it.
Q. With him you had your best season in terms of numbers…
R. It is true that it was a lower category, but from day one he has told me that those numbers and those from last year are what he expects from me. Not only is he going to ask me for numbers, but also for me to be the protagonist in the game.
The coach is going to ask me for numbers, but also for me to be the protagonist
Q. Do you understand that this season you are expected to be one of those leading the way?
R. We all pull the car, because we all have to contribute. Last year I had good numbers, but I would have signed to score five fewer goals and be promoted. I know that I must do my bit, which is important for everyone.
Q. You have been a starter for all teams, except for the year in Primera with Las Palmas, why were you a starter with Diego Martínez?
R. It took me a while to adapt. Not because of attitude, but because it took me a while to acclimatize to the game. To that we must add that Moleiro was at an incredible level. He was ahead of me and we rarely played together. Roles are being formed and there are starters and substitutes. I have always said that the biggest culprit was me. Still, if I had done it differently, I would have had more minutes.
I have forged a good friendship with Enrique Clemente
Q. Which player in the squad do you understand best with?
R. With Enrique Clemente. He plays on the left and I fall a lot into that profile. I get along great with him, both on and off the field. The truth is that we have forged a very good friendship. He is a person who I think will be there when we stop kicking the ball.
Q. Which youth player has caught your attention the most?
R. Each one is different and has something special. But the one who has caught my attention the most is Rafa Cruz. For his age, he has a lot of self-confidence. Little by little he will become a footballer. He is a different boy and, by giving him the love and advice he needs, he will bring a lot of joy to UD.
I haven’t played the Canarian derby, but since you arrive on the island they talk to you about that match. We know the importance that the fans give to the derby
Q. What goals do you set this season?
R. On an individual level, improve myself. But the collective objective is the important one. Furthermore, we are very clear: finish what we started last year with a promotion. It was hard, but we are back, we have cleared our heads and we have a clear objective
Q. Tenerife has been promoted and it will be their first derby, how do you expect it?
R. I haven’t played it, but since you arrive on the island they talk to you about that game. We know the importance that the fans give to the derby. It will be a nice experience, but right now I’m only thinking about the preseason and getting to the first game against Albacete well.