The mythical former txuriurdin player trusts that Imanol Alguacil’s footballers will win against Athletic and achieve the fifth club title, after the four in which he was the protagonist
Roberto López Ufarte trusts that on Saturday he will stop being one of the members of the last team to win a title at La Real Society, because those of Imanol Alguacil proclaim themselves champions of the Copa del Rey. The little devil is one of the few Txuriurdin footballers who can boast of having been in the four great successes in the club’s history.
Question. 34 years of the last title. How much does it cost to win one in the Real?
Answer. That’s why people still stop me on the street and remind me how happy we made them those days, I even meet parents who tell their children who I am and what we did. I think reaching a final, playing it and winning it with Real is the best. In a club with so few titles, having been in the two Leagues, the Super Cup and the Cup is something that cannot be overlooked.
I am extremely proud to have had direct intervention in the four titles of the Real
P. You can boast of it and, in addition, of having been very important in the achievement of the four.
R. I always say that the team is the one that wins, that it was Real that won the titles, that it was the fans that won them with us because of how much they supported us, but the truth is that I am extremely proud of having had a direct intervention in all four. In the first league, in Gijón, they gave me the penalty for the first goal. In the second title I scored a goal, just like in the Super Cup and in the Cup. But I insist that the important thing was not that I scored, that Uralde or Txiki did it, that Arconada made stops, the important thing is that the Real won titles .
Q. And can you win one this April 3?
R. What I have clear, from what we have talked about, is that Real have to take advantage of this opportunity to win it, because you never know when they will have an opportunity to do so again. It is impressive to think that Real can be champions again, it is the desire we have had for 34 years.
Q. So, are you and your golden generation looking forward to being succeeded as last champions or are you a little jealous?
R. We have already been protagonists for many years, hopefully Real will win this Cup and we will stop being the last champions. What happens is that it is very difficult, above all, for the same generation, as happened with us, to get several titles. But I already tell you that I hope the Real win this Cup, they need it, after so many years.
La Real have to defend well and take advantage of their midfield and their dynamite in attack
P. How do you see the game?
R. The thing that there are no favorites is a cliché, but it is true. La Real is fine, Athletic has improved with Marcelino, but a final is on the sidelines of everything. I think there are three key players in Athletic, who are Muniain, Raúl García and Williams, which is a team that knows how to motivate itself for this type of game, which makes it very difficult. La Real has a very good center of the field and dynamite in attack, perhaps behind, although the numbers are not bad, I think that it may be the weakest area or in which we must pay more attention, so as not to make mistakes with errors that could mark the goal. match. Remiro is a great goalkeeper, but he has to be covered.
Q. The defenses over the attacks, then?
A. Teams are built from behind. La Real have to do a great defensive job and, based on it, take advantage of the opportunities that Isak, Oyarzabal and company will have through the passing game.
P. What a strange final, a year later, without an audience, with international matches a few days before …
A. Of course it is. And, also, I think that a year ago the Real would have won for sure, while now I have already told you that they have not favored, that things are at 50%. And about playing without an audience, I have always said that the footballer plays for the people, sometimes I watch the game on TV and I realize that the player is missing seeing the full stands, having the support of the public .
I lean towards a 3-2 for Real, after suffering a lot
Q. Do you dare to make a forecast?
R. I lean 3-2 in favor of Real, after suffering a lot. It would be a great show and, winning the Real, a huge joy. I don’t care about the scorers, the logical thing is that Isak, who I like a lot, Oyarzabal, Merino coming from behind … I don’t care who goal, what I want is for Real to win.
Q. If you do, how do you imagine April 4?
R. Well, I would wake up with immense happiness, despite having slept little, because I usually go to bed late. It will not be possible to celebrate how we are, the ideal would be to have a meal in style, but neither can many people get together now. The most important thing is that the Real wins, then we will celebrate it even if it is each family on their own.
