The defender from Arguineguín has played eight yellow derbies with two wins. It enhances the figure of the Galician ‘Tete’ striker. “Treasure a higher level.”
A Tenerife-UD under the playoff format is an allegation of madness. Passion, crossroads of maximum rivalry and a place in the final. How do you analyze this pulse?
Basically, with Nàstic de Tarragona we had to do the same as UD Las Palmas. You had to win the last four days to have options to play the promotion. And we have achieved it. We have gone hand in hand and now we face Racing de Ferrol in the semifinals [domingo, 17.00 horas en el Estadio Municipal de Balaídos y luego deben al vencedor del cruce entre el Villarreal B y el Logroñés de Javi Castellano]. I talk to Momo every day and it can be said that we go hand in hand. Nàstic and UD in this fight for the same goal. Hopefully the end is the same and we can celebrate a double joy.
Parallel lives marked by urgency. Adrenalin.
For not doing homework until the end, not being regular. The derby? It is a game, a priori, in which Las Palmas is more than a favorite.
It is always argued that whoever succumbs in a Canarian classic is touched. But what would it mean to lose a playoff semifinal round?
I think that whoever doesn’t pass will be screwed for a long time. First of all, you have to be very careful. Tenerife is not doing well, it seems that they are discouraged. For its part, UD caught the regularity late, otherwise they would have achieved direct promotion. As a team it is much better than Tenerife. As well as everything: the approach, the game, the way of carrying it out, the complicity, the sacrifice and the humility that is perceived from the outside. All the elements point to UD Las Palmas.
The numbers of the Pimienta formation are impressive. The best in history. The last eleven days: nine wins and two draws.
I have seen practically all the games of the UD. Except in those cases in which it has coincided with Nàstic. Even with my mobile I was able to follow the matches and they have been superior to all the teams. They tied with Eibar and Ibiza and I think they deserved to get the six points. UD was far superior to the rest. And the good comes, it has a small advantage [le valen los dos empates para pasar la prórroga]. It’s a totally different competition…
From Viera to Valles. From Kirian to Moleiro. Do you think there is any similarity between Pimienta’s squad and the group that achieved promotion with Herrera?
Yes, there is some similarity, those who are in the field and come out of reinforcements, because I see them trained. I see you men, you know what you have to do at all times. The one who enters knows what he has to do, that is more important than any style or way of playing
“Viera is a world superclass and could be playing in a Champions club”
Is it a war of styles: yellow poetry against muscle and rigor chicharrero?
No, I don’t consider it to be a style war. But this is as if you asked Messi’s Barça to play to withdraw. Each handles his weapons as he knows how. UD has the best player in the category and several First Division teams. And then there is too much quality around that player. It’s normal for you to play like this. For its part, Tenerife have been playing for a long time in the same way. They are two very marked styles. UD plays the same game at home as away. In the end, when you play well with the ball, you always have more chances to win.
You have to get the dictionary. The praise for Viera is exhausted. From alien to Second Second Messi. What do you add?
I am not going to discover Jonathan Viera. Nor am I going to repeat any statement or assessment that has already been made about him. Viera is the best player in the Second Division and one of the best in the entire First Division. Due to the circumstances we know he is at UD, but he could be playing for a Champions League club and doing whatever he wants. He is the best and contagious to others. The winning gene from him is infinite. He is a leader who always shows his face and even in the worst moments. He is always there and even more so now that he has scored fourteen goals.
In these matches, the pause is crucial. Do you see Viera with the leadership capacity that Juan Carlos Valerón, David García, Nauzet Alemán, the case of him or Vicente had at the time?
I already had it. What happens is that now he is more mature. But above all, it enhanced his directorial side. But along with Viera there are hungry players, who have been in the first team for a long time, or others with experience like Raúl Navas. Next to Jony, there are many people prepared. Viera is a world superclass. He is in Second to go up to Las Palmas.
Which Tenerife player do you label as the most dangerous?
I stay with Enric Gallego. He is differential, a worker (…) I have faced Gallego several times. He is a striker of a higher level… But UD is doing well, he competes with the advanced defense, they are much better from set pieces, a few days ago there were murmurs and not anymore. UD is the clear favourite, but you have to be humble at all times.
What has surprised you most about Pimienta, the fashion technician in the category?
I speak with a lot of UD players and above all he is being fair. The one who does it well, repeats. There are no players that can be accommodated. He is managing it well, he is a good person and above all very intelligent.
And the role of coach Richi?
I have a good relationship. His work is fundamental and I know him from his previous stage at UD [2014-15]. It is a figure that gives you strength and is key to strengthening performance.
What does it feel like to step on the Heliodorus? You have disputed eight Canarian classics…
Above all, the pique. He is the eternal rival. We want to beat him at his home, so our fans will be even happier. You play for the rest of the island, you think to the ‘chicharreros friends we are going to give them a bit of cane’. This playoff pulse has nothing to do with the league pulse. As Ramis said, one door closes and another opens.
