Gaizka Mendieta "Man City favorites again for the Champions League"
The former player spanish speaks with Discoveryfootball in Berlin about different items of international football
At 49 years old and with many experiences in his life, Basque Gaizka Mendieta now offers his services in La Liga. However, he does not live in his home country of Spain, but in rainy London, where the offices of the international service of La Liga are, so that he can be informed about everything that happens both in the Premier League and in the other national championships and general football events.
Mendieta, distinguished himself most with Valencia (wearing the No. 8 shirt) where he twice reached the UEFA Champions League final, but lost both times (first to Real and then to Bayern Munich). Valencia coached at the time by the Argentinian Hector Cuper, he played for Castellon, Lazio, FC Barcelona and Middlesbrough. He wore the jersey of the Spanish national team 40 times (8 goals).
I meet Mendieta again, on my recent trip to
Berlin, at the
30th ECA General Assembly, where of course he was invited. So it makes sense to take advantage of the opportunity for a conversation about what we both love, football.
DF: Gaizka, first of all, how do you see the new league in your country, Spain? Will we see any surprises?
R/: "As far as the title case is concerned, I don't think anyone can beat Barcelona, Real Madrid and then Atlético at the moment. Yes again these three will be the main contenders for the title. From now on, it is possible, because we are still at the beginning of the new league, that some team will appear and enter the top four of the Champions League. But I cannot know who it might be, because I repeat we are still at the beginning..."
DF: Let's go to UEFA's top product, the UEFA Champions League. The season that ended we saw Manchester City conquer the top of Europe. Do you think he will be able to keep the primaries?
R/: "The work that Pep Guardiola is doing at Manchester City is unique. He has managed to create a school of his own and find a way for his team to offer a nice spectacle and win titles. This year we even saw her dominating the Premier League again, winning the FA Cup, then the Champions League and the European Super Cup in Athens, while she also has the Club World Cup ahead of her. So yes, I think she has every reason to believe that she can worthily defend her title in the Champions League. Of course, things will not be easy, since there are equally strong teams such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, maybe even Paris Saint-Germain...”
DF: Who do you think will win the Ballon d'Or this year?
R/: "I know, like all of us, that Messi won the World Cup with the Argentine national team. That Kevin De Bruyne played an important role in City's success. But I personally believe that the Golden Ball will be won by the Norwegian, Haaland, who helped his team a lot with the many goals he scored to dominate everywhere.."
DF: Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are coming to the end of an amazing career. Do you see someone who will soon have us talking about him?
R/: "For now I think there is Haaland and Mbappe who will take the reins. But a new kid comes running who, if he has no misfortunes in his life, then he will write his own story. And I am referring to 16-year-old Lamin Yamal. A kid who made his appearance with Barcelona in the Spanish league and showed amazing things. I think the future will be his. He plays as a right winger but using his wonderful left foot…
Manos Staramopoulos
Journalist and Analyst of International Football and Affairs
Chief Editor English Zone of Discoveryfootball.com
Athens (Greece)
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