The deputy of ERC Gabriel Rufián gave an extensive interview to the newspaper ‘Brand’ in which he reviewed numerous aspects of the world of football, starting with his love for RCD Espanyol and continuing with his perception of the Spanish team. This is an excerpt of some of their responses:
About how his passion for Espanyol was born
“First, because I love football like so many other people. And second, because when I was little I quickly realized that in my class everyone was from Barça or Madrid and that the easy thing was to be from a big team. So I decided make a small one and the place more or less where I lived.
Cruyff’s Barça
“I am capable of rejoicing in the victory of an opponent if they play well or of appreciating an extraordinary player from another team. I have sometimes been criticized for this, but I really enjoyed Guardiola’s Barça and Cruyff’s and with Madrid’s Forest”.
Real Madrid supporter?
“As for sympathizing with Madrid, what I actually said and I still maintain is that I sympathize with that spirit that, no matter what happens, they are going to win. That is what draws my attention about the white team but it is It is a black legend that we parrots are from Madrid.”
“The first time a colleague from Esquerra Republicana found out that I was a parakeet and was going to make it public, he told me if he wanted us to lose the elections”
On whether being a parakeet is frowned upon
“The first time a colleague from Esquerra Republicana found out that I was a perico and was going to make it public, he told me that he wanted us to lose the elections. My response was that there were also people from Espanyol in Catalonia and that we must support everyone the Catalan teams beyond Barça. I also repeat that I am not anti-Culé. Being anti-fascist is enough.”
About the Spanish team
“I have enjoyed a lot with La Roja and anyone who likes football and says they didn’t enjoy that team that won the way they won, especially the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 Euro Cup, is like saying that you can’t like the Sistine Chapel because You are not Catholic. I think there is nothing wrong with saying it. Now, what I would like is for what I consider my country, which is Catalonia, to be able to compete in a qualifying phase like Scotland does and nothing happens. If there were a Spain-Catalunya, I would like Catalonia to win. Firstly because it is my country and secondly because it is the small one and I always identify with the small ones.”
The photo of Rafa Nadal with the King and the criticism of Piqué
“I am against this idea that maintains that sport should not be politicized. Isn’t Rafa Nadal taking a photo with the King political? I think so and it is respectable even though I am absolutely against it. But it is curious that Some say that this is respectable while they criticized that Piqué, at the time, voted in a referendum for the self-determination or not of Catalonia. That was a drama and he had to be hammered, whistled at, insulted and expelled. of the Spanish team”.
Your sympathy for Lamine Yamal
“First because it is difficult to come from where he comes from and surely endure what he has endured in terms of pressure. And then because he is criticized and pointed out by fascism and that always generates sympathy for me.”
The controversy with the Ballon d’Or
“It’s curious to see Spanish athletes sad or directly criticizing the fact that the Ballon d’Or is given to a Spaniard, and that has happened, eh. Here you can see the power of Real Madrid. No one can escape the fact that they wanted Vinicius to win it. but it is worth remembering that in this year’s vote values such as sportsmanship counted, Vinicius, who is an extraordinary player who will one day win this award, has shown on some occasions that he still struggles depending on what things at the level of fair play and. of not getting into fights. The fact that Rodri, who is the best midfielder in the world, won it should not have been a cause of controversy as it was within Spanish sports journalism.
“Vinicius would be a more warrior profile, like Óscar Puente”
Rodri and Vinicius in politics
“Because of that sympathy that Rodri arouses among the press, that whatever he does he seems to never get dirty, that he always comes out with his uniform spotless, it could be someone like Aitor Esteban (PNV spokesperson in the Congress of Deputies). Vinicius “It would be a more warrior profile, like Oscar Puente.”
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The ‘Negreira Case’
“Well, we have to investigate it but it is also true that whoever believes that a team with Messi, Iniesta, Busquets and Toni Freixa, who said that perhaps they paid for what others get for free.”
“Without Catalans and Basques, Spain wouldn’t even beat Senegal”
Basques and Catalans in the Spanish team
“Evidently the Spanish team is made up of the best players in the State. Now, I say it clearly, without Catalans and Basques they would not even beat Senegal. With all due respect to Senegal. It is an interesting debate. A few weeks ago in Congress, Borja Sémper, who is the most moderate that the Popular Party has and a friend of mine, defended the Spanish team against the regional teams and my response was lapidary. I am not against La Roja, far from it. In fact, I have celebrated his goals. On the other hand, you are against the Catalan team playing official matches. Who is the exclusionary? What would happen if the Catalan team played international competitions? In the five minutes the Spanish team called you, who would you play with?
