Pedro León: “This squad is not among the three worst in Primera”

Pedro León had never played so few starting matches -except for the year he was at Real Madrid- like this year at Eibar. The Murcian is no longer an important player for Mendilibar. A practically unknown situation for a footballer who does not throw in the towel and is an example of commitment within the dressing room. Not a reproach or a single bad face at this moment in which the important thing is the collective. Pedro believes that the Eibar situation is not dramatic, there is time to reverse it and he is convinced that there is a level in the squad to avoid relegation

Has the break been good for you to reset after so long without winning?

Answer. When things don’t go your way, these breaks are used to see things differently and try to forget the situation a bit, although it never completely gets out of your head.

They have ten finals ahead of them to achieve salvation.

It is being Eibar’s worst year in the First Division along with the first year. The dressing room knows what is out there and we are aware that we are in a difficult situation. There are ten games left, between them we have to play against the top three. We know where we are and we are psyched. We have confidence in the team, that is our strength, and we can move it forward.

The calendar they have scares.

You never know where you can get the points. There have been games against direct rivals that it seemed that we were going to get certain points and we have not added them. We have to be realistic, we know the calendar we have, but we are not afraid of it. The great problem of the situation is in ourselves. If we are good we can win anywhere. We focus on improving as a team. Our strength is the group and the costumes.

Do you think they have the points they deserve?

We have 28 days and we are on the decline due to our own demerits. There has not been any game in which we have delivered the spoon early. We lack points, but we have competed every game. We have to improve, correct the mistakes we make and try to take the games forward.

People had gotten used to Eibar being saved several days in advance.

They are seven years in First, and the five of Mendilibar have been given differently this season. We are used to maintaining the category comfortably, but we are Eibar and there are teams that will fight until the end. This has happened for years. It is not the situation we wanted to be in, but we have time to reverse it.

The eleven days without winning weigh on the head.

Yes. The objective is to achieve a victory as soon as possible but we have been thinking about that in recent games and it has not yet happened. The solution is in us. I think this squad is not among the worst three in Primera. It is not the year we all expected, but there are ten games left, we are psyched up and we hope that victory comes as soon as possible to see things differently.

The club’s confidence in Mendilibar at such a delicate moment is worthy of praise, right?

We know how important Mendilibar is at the club. We knew it even before the club made its confidence public. We are all united, we know what there is and I honestly believe that the current squad is not among the worst three. We have time to solve it, there are ten games left, we are all fighting for the same goal and this is the way forward to achieve the points we need.

It is not being an easy year for you, but it is being an example of commitment.

I don’t pretend to be an example of anything. I thank Eibar for the confidence that I have given me. It has been a very difficult year for me. I had been counting a lot and this season is being the one that I have played the fewest minutes in my sports career, taking away the year I was at Real Madrid. It is not easy to catch the rhythm of the competition playing so little. In the last games the coach decided to count on me and I am happy with the performance I have given. I was not used to playing so little and every time I go out I try to help the team. They are decisions of Mendilibar, with whom I have a lot of confidence, and the other teammates have the same right to play.

What is clear that Mendilibar does not marry anyone.

I know a lot about Mendilibar, I know how he thinks and I know that he is a person who goes to death with those who consider they have to play. It does not matter if you have more or less confidence. Mendi believes that other teammates have to play ahead of me and I have no choice but to respect him.

Is the relationship between the two still as good as it was?

Of course. The relationship we have is outside of sports. Mendilibar believes that there are other players who are better than me, but sporting decisions have never affected our relationship.

It was hard to see the best Pedro León after the four interventions he suffered in less than two years.

The year of my arrival at Eibar was magnificent for everyone. Then came two years in which I could barely play due to injuries. Last season it is true that physically I was not as well as I would like, but this year I feel very well. They are decisions of the míster. He commands and I have to abide by them.

Contract ends in June. Have you talked to the renewal club?

It’s the last thing I think about right now. There are ten games left to be saved and I don’t think beyond that.

How do you see the visit to Valdebebas?

It is always difficult to play against Madrid, but there have been teams that have put him in trouble in Valdebebas. Any game is an opportunity to score points and we cannot give away any game even if we have Madrid in front of us. We have to go for the points and with that mentality we go.

Does playing against Madrid after a national team break benefit you?

To get something positive out of Valdebebas they don’t have to have a good day. If any equipment is plugged in, even the largest in Europe, it is difficult to get something out. We are going with the idea of ​​playing a good game and we hope they are a little clueless about the national team, although there are important players who have not attended.

How are you seeing Madrid?

It may seem that Madrid is not having a good season, but it is alive in the League and in the Champions League. I don’t think I’m having such a bad season.

What do you think is the greatest virtue of this Madrid?

His spirit. It seemed that they had lost the game three weeks ago against Elche and ended up winning it in the 93rd minute. Madrid’s greatest ability is that it seems that you are dominating them and you have them on the ropes, but then they end up winning.