Vinny Samways, who watches all the UD games he can, is looking forward to this afternoon’s derby against Tenerife (5:30 p.m.) with the confidence of winning it, just as he did four times in the six games he played against the blue and white Likewise, the Londoner is delighted with Pimienta and the touch game of Las Palmas and sees parallels with the team that promoted with Kresic in 1999.
The blessing of the most beloved Briton in Gran Canaria for the derby of the YOU against the Tenerife he did not miss his appointment. Vinny Samways, who defended the yellow jersey for six seasonsthose between 1996 and 2002, and with six games against the chicharrero team behind him, of which he won four, he has no doubts of a new victory this afternoon: “Las Palmas is going to beat Tenerife, for sure.”
The Londoner yesterday counted the hours to get in front of the television to see the clash against Tenerife. «I watch all the Las Palmas matches that I can and this one, obviously, I’m not going to miss it,” Vinny says, that he recounts with greater calm than the one he lived the days before the derbies when he was a player. «Look, I spent about two days before these games very nervous because the derbies last two weeks. They start seven days before and last seven days after.s. They are the most important of the year.
“We always left happy every time we played against them,” he conveys with a sly laugh.
for samways the result of the derbies determined the state of mind of the team and the Island during those two weeks to which it refers. “Yes, yes, the game is worth three points the same, but if you win you give the fans the greatest gift and on top of that you can say that you are the best team on earth at that moment,” he highlights.
In this sense, and in terms of temperamental management that can be transferred to the pitch, where he was a hatchet as far as giving up for the shield, Vinny gives advice to those who may be dealing with restlessness in the yellow locker room today. «I was nervous until the last moment, but when I jumped onto the pitch I forgot everything. It’s the only advice I can give. That they disconnect and enjoy these games », he adds.
Because Samways can be considered an expert in terms of matches of maximum rivalry. He played three with Tottenham, one with Sevilla and six with UD «I thank God for having played the derbies against Tenerife, Betis, Arsenal and living it against Liverpool – when he belonged to Everton, although he did not play any game against the Reds–”, underlines the British.
Asked about which derby against Tenerife is the one with the best taste in the mouth of the six he played and in which he only bent his knee once –in 2002 in the penultimate league game, 0-1 with a goal from Marioni in the Insular–, he does not hesitate in his answer: “My memory is very long, I remember all the games, but without a doubt the best one was the one we beat them 3-1 at the Heliodoro”he blurts out, to leave one of his pearls with his sly laugh: “My experience is that we always came out quite happy every time we played against them.”
The derby that Samways keeps with the greatest affection save an indelible moment in the retina of yellow fans thanks to Nacho Gonzálezthe goalkeeper of the team coached by Fernando Vázquez, who got ready to score the third goal for the insulars from the penalty spot with a shot –like all the others he threw– to beat Sergio Aragoneses and add to the goalscoring record of Tevenet and Josico.
That it was the penultimate derby that UD won in Tenerife. A drought that lasted twenty years until the Kirianazo last season and that Vinny hopes will be repeated this season.
As much confidence as you have in Garcia Pepper. “I love the coach. His profile and his game is very nice. He does the typical soccer tiki taka canary. He is of a high level, as Kresic was », emphasizes the former midfielder.
When rescuing the Croatian coach, architect of the promotion of the 1999-2000 campaign and the parallels that this UD may have with the one he defended 23 years ago, he sees certain similarities. “Now there are many youngsters wanting to shine and very good people with experience, as we were that year,” he clarifies.
Also, yesi bless the UD for this afternoon’s derby, He is also confident in Pimienta’s work between now and the end of the season. “He knows what he has to do to win the derby and he knows what he has to do in the remaining eleven games, I think he has made a good strategy for the year. Anything can happen in football, but I think we’re going to get promoted this year. I wish my island all the luck.” Vinnie’s word.
