María Isabel Rodríguez (Las Palmas, 1999) is one of the current soccer players on the international scene. He is the titular goalkeeper of Real Madrid, his presence in the Spanish team has become common to the point of adding three caps under the three suits. Woman of contrasts, she defines herself as “crazy” but transmits tranquility, realism and coherence. And if you don’t read …
QUESTION. On Thursday against the Faroe Islands he added his third international game with the senior team.
ANSWER. It is always a pride to wear the shirt of your country and share a dressing room with the best 23 players in Spain. For me it is a privilege to train and learn every day from them. We are focused on the qualifying phase for the World Cup because it will help us prepare for the European Championship. I really wanted to play with the national team again and motivated by what is to come.
P. This team is expected not only to win, but to score and play beautifully. Do you feel that pressure inside the locker room?
R. No, in the end we focus on doing our best. We know that we have incredible players, that we are characterized by a beautiful game, and it is true that the more goals are scored and the less we fit in, the better we will feel as a team, but we have that demand. We always go out to play with that motivation and intensity that characterizes us and being a team for everything.
Q. Is there much talk about the Eurocup?
R. Let’s go step by step. We are focused on the games in this qualifying round and our rivals, but we know that unconsciously it will help us to prepare for the European Championship and it will allow us to arrive in the best possible conditions in England next summer.
Q. Do you see yourself on the list for the Eurocup?
R. Hopefully yes. I work every day to be on that list, but I am aware that every day it is difficult to enter the top 23. I hope that with my daily work and giving my best both in the national team and in my team, I can achieve it.
Q. You have a different role in the national team than you do at Real Madrid. In his club he is the undisputed starter and with Spain he starts as a substitute for Sandra Paños. How do you handle it?
R. It is true that my role changes a bit, but that does not mean that I give less than myself. Both Paños and Sun (Quiñones) are great goalkeepers and training with them daily is an experience and a motivation. I train to play, like the rest of my teammates, but if not, I try to do my bit from whatever plot.
P. The goal is one of the positions in which less is usually rotated. You know what it is to be a starter and a substitute. Does history change a lot?
R. What you have to do is be prepared at all times because you never know when you are going to have to go out to play. I work every day to get my best version. When Jorge (Vilda) gives me the opportunity to go out I try to make the most of it.
P. Spain is an increasingly young team.
R. The young players, not only those of my generation but those that come from behind who are doing a great job, they are players who have demonstrated enough to be here. On view are all the titles that have been achieved in the lower categories and it is a pride to see so many young players and something to thank Jorge for the trust he places in us. Entering a call is increasingly difficult and that makes your demand ever greater.
Q. She is one of the soccer players of the moment, but what dreams do she have left to fulfill?
R. Still many! [Risas] With Real Madrid I would like to win all the titles that exist in the world and with the national team I would like to be in the Eurocup and, why not, win it. I think that in both cases we have a team to try to win everything and fight to be at the top.
P. With Real Madrid the season has started irregularly. Good in the Champions League, bad in the League …
R. To be honest, we didn’t expect to have such a start. It is true that we have been able to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League and it is something to be happy about, but seeing that you are at the end of the table in the league leaves you with a bittersweet taste. Nobody wanted or thought that we were going to have the results that we have had. Obviously we believe that things are going to change and we are going to go out each game to be better to take the club to the top, which is where it deserves to be.
R. It is the first year in Europe, but being Real Madrid it is impossible not to talk about the Champions League. What is the goal set?
P. Every game in the Champions League is going to be complicated because the best teams in Europe are there. He has not touched a group in which we are going to compete and we will fight to be first or second and thus see ourselves in the quarterfinals. Then we’ll see …
P. Returning to the selection, the bulk of each list are players from Real Madrid and Barcelona. How do they get?
R. In the national team we are lucky to be a great group, not only with the players from Barça and Real Madrid but also with those from Athletic, Atlético, Levante … We get along very well and there is not that pique that is always talked about. We have a lot of respect for each other and that good vibes we have regardless of the club we play for is admirable.
Q. I think it is healthy, especially seeing what is often read on social networks, for you to stage that two club players with such rivalry can be friends.
R. It is the most normal thing in the world. It does not matter that one defends the colors of Barcelona and another those of Real Madrid. There are people who forget that we are people and regardless of the club in which we play we get along very well, we are great companions and I think it is in sight.
Q. Listening to her speak, she doesn’t seem like a concierge. They say that goalkeepers are usually a little crazy …
R. [Risas] Do not believe it, in my day to day I am very crazy. I think anyone you ask will tell you that I’m not right in the head. Yes, it is something that characterizes us goalkeepers. Don’t ask me why because I don’t know, but I’ve always had that point of madness or joker in my life. If in the end I make the people around me a little happy with my way of being, then welcome.
Q. And maniac, superstitious?
R. Not much. When I go out to the field I kiss a very special tattoo for me which is my grandmother’s eye, but nothing more.
