David Ferreiro: I follow Lugo because I am Galician and because I played there

Galician winger David Ferreiro (Ourense, 1988) now plays for Cartagena, Lugo’s next opponent this Friday at 9pm in Cartagonova. Ferreiro arrived at the Murcia team last summer after becoming the most important player or one of the most important in Huesca’s history, leading two promotions to the First Division and two seasons in the top flight. He previously competed at Lugo between 2014 and 2016, was a very regular starter with Quique Setién, Luis Millo and José Durán and had two very enjoyable spells.

— How do you experience this short week with the match against Lugo?

– This is a very important week for us, as well as for Lugo. We are seven points away from promotion, we want to close that distance and everything depends on a win at home. There are three necessary points for striving for something beautiful.

— Against Eibar, the current leader, they won 0-3 or let’s say 0-3 in Ponferrada, but now they have suffered two defeats and conceded a total of eight goals. At what point is the team?

— Yes, we were in a good dynamic. We went eight without a win and then strung together three wins in four days, which gives you that extra to be on top. Now, as you say, we had two heavy defeats. Against Andorra (0-3) we were very excited to win, but it was a very good game from their side. In Villarreal, we are capable of coming back, but three goals are scored in stoppage time and the result is quite bulky. We must continue. We have a new opportunity at home, there are still ten games left and a lot to decide.

—This Friday they have two casualties due to suspension: Pablo Vázquez and Damián Musto. How do they affect you?

— Yes, and we have some others with some evidence. (Óscar) Ureña is injured. It’s a moment in the season where a lot of players are touched because there are a lot of games. They are very important victims because they are players with a lot of minutes and who are having a great season, but we have a great team.

— They lost seven games at home. Do they compete better outside?

— Yes, every season is a world. Last season it was said that Cartagena was very strong at home, but now it’s the opposite. At home, we took the games forward, but it was difficult for us against the opponents who are in the lower zone at home. It is difficult for us to get to such matches.

“Are you free for Friday?”

— Yes, yes, I train for two weeks. Now I’m fine, I’m taking on team dynamics and getting along with my teammates. I want to enjoy it.

— What do you think about the current situation in Lugo?

– I am a Lugo follower because I am from Galicia and because I played for Lugo. I know about the situation, which is complicated. There are fewer and fewer days left. There are quite a few differences. The problem is that now all the teams have something in the game, and the players have contracts for next year. They are a team that does not give up and they have been in situations like this before, although not so complicated. If anyone can pull it off, it’s Lugo from what we’ve seen in past seasons.

— How do you remember your two seasons in Lugo, with two pleasant terms and a very regular starter?

— Those were progressive years. They later helped me direct my years in Huesca to a high level. He came playing great football. In Lugo I was not as good as I would have liked. I would have liked them to have seen my best seasons in Lugo, but it wasn’t like that. With Quique (Setién), we played spectacular football at home. In the first few laps we were even in the top four or five. I enjoyed that football and applied it in the following years.

—In Huesca, he was twice promoted to the First League, he played two seasons in the First League and is undoubtedly one of the most relevant players in its history, certainly alongside Jorge Pulido. How do you rate those six years?

— Yes, that’s where I found football luck, so to speak. That was my house. I felt highly valued from the first minute, which is very important for a footballer. In the first year, we already made history by playing play from the ascent. Later it was incredible because everything was already shot with promotion, a season in the First League, another promotion, another season in the First League. We got relegated but I really enjoyed the two seasons in League One but we were always just a few games away from keeping the team in League One. I will always remember it as my football home. Very happy. The fans really enjoyed it. Huesca will have more than double or triple the subscribers than when I arrived. That makes me proud. I prefer the first promotion because I never experienced it and it was the most beautiful thing a football player can have.

— Has your game adapted better to the First than the Second League?

Yes, much more. I am quite a combinatory player, there is a little more space. If you defend well with the ball, you can generate. I felt very good, very comfortable in both seasons.

— And that was more important than the lineup.

Yes, I had coaches who loved my shooting, I was in charge of the lineups and that gives you confidence. We football players must have confidence, that the coaches trust us. Also, I played a lot of games to be able to play at a high level.

“Pelayo is a great person, he looks at us and is proud of us”

— How did you experience the retirement of Carlos Pita and Fernando Seoane as football players, as well as Pita’s resignation as sports director?

I am still in contact with them. I chat on WhatsApp from time to time. I’ve always said that as long as Pita, Seo and Manu are here, Lugo will be in good hands. Pita left I don’t know why problems. I didn’t want to get into it too much. Pita gave everything and will always give everything for Lugo. I don’t doubt that at all. I’m sure he’s the most annoyed. Pita will return to some sports management of the club and he gave everything for Lugo. I certainly have that.

— He was a teammate of Pelay Nova, his former teammate in Lugo and unfortunately he passed away recently. How sad did you feel and what do you remember about him?

—When you read the news in the press you don’t believe it because it’s impossible that this happened to Pelay because he was a fantastic guy, he had a huge heart, I don’t think anyone in the world of football who knows him or his family personally can say anything bad about him. He was a boy with a big heart, never a bad word and the truth is that it was a huge pain. You had a bad time. After a few days, you get over it and realize that life is hard. Pelayo is a great person, I’m sure he’s watching us and he’s proud of all of us.