Fernando Medrano: “Better to exit the playoffs now than at the last moment, like a year ago”

Fernando Medrano Gastanaga (Madrid, 2000) was the last player from the branch to make his Celta debut. He did it at the Bernabéu against Madrid. This afternoon (5:00 p.m.) will be with Celtic B against Fuenlabrada in a key match to continue the selection for the play off. The winger has a contract until 2026, but with the option to terminate at the end of this season. He wants to wear light blue next season as well.

— How about these two years in Vigo?

— This year I am very satisfied with the group and the coaching staff, I enjoy a lot of minutes and the results are good.

— Last year, when you were in the shadow of Pampín, did you come to reconsider the future?

-Not. I knew Pampín was in great shape. Besides being a partner, he is a friend and I was happy for him. I learned a lot from him. In the summer, the club told me that they would count on me, that I would be an important player, and I didn’t think about it.

— How would you define Celta B’s season?

— In terms of results, we started regularly, because we had a lot of people who had to adapt to the category, but over time we settled down as a group and had a very good result at the beginning of the year. Now it costs us a little, because all the teams play a lot and it is difficult to win, but we are united, we believe in ourselves and that we will achieve what we set out to do.

— And what do they suggest, whether it is important to be in promotion or not?

This is the goal that motivates us all. If we don’t make the final, I don’t think it’s a failure, but because we’re so close to it, we’d love to get there.

— No one counted on you in the beginning, later everyone takes it for granted and then they leave the playoffs.

— Our goal was stability and from there, match by match, we will look for what we can. We’ve reached the top, but now that we’re out, we’re not going to give up, because we’re one game away, and there’s still four games to go.

— Do you see any similarity with last year, when they were left out on the last day?

— It seems a bit similar, but I think it was better for us to leave now, with four days left, than last year at the last minute. Now we have more room to correct it and I think we still depend on ourselves. If we do what we have to do, we’ll be in there eventually.

— The match with Fuenlabrada looks crucial.

-That. We are playing at home and we have to win at home again. The most important thing is that we stay without a goal, which costs us. I think that in the second half of Sunday’s game against Cultural, we regained good playing feelings and I am sure that everything will go well this Sunday.

—Where does the victory over Fuenlabrada go?

— The idea we have in every game: follow our style of play, have the ball, press and create chances, and leave an empty goal so that it doesn’t happen like in the first game, when we took advantage of opportunities and ended in a draw.

— This year you alternated between lateral and central, how do you feel inside?

—I always played as a winger or a winger, but the coach put me there because the team needed it, I felt more and more comfortable and now that it’s my turn I feel just as comfortable as a winger.

— What does Claudio Giráldez ask of you?

— To be a veteran player, to try to help the group by controlling emotions during matches, because the mental problem is very important, and to be able to recognize what the game requires at all times.

— You came to Atlético when you were seven years old and did the preseason with the first team. What made you leave?

— I still had a few years left on my contract at Atlético, but the branch moved to the Third Federation and I knew that I would not have a place in the first team. So, I was thinking about leaving and playing in a higher category, and when Celta’s interest appeared, I didn’t think about it.

— Your worst moment at Celta was getting kicked out of Riazor?

— Yes, it was unexpected and out of control that it was unfair to me. It also happened to be my birthday and the first time I was kicked out in my career. It was difficult, but everyone was very supportive.

— You have a contract until 2026, but with the option to terminate this summer, do you see yourself in Vigo next season?

– I would like to stay. I have many friends, I really liked the city, and if it was mine I would be delighted.

“I feel identified with Celta and their values”

Medrano made his debut for Celta at the Santiago Bernabéu on the right giving Kevin a refresher. The Madrid man considers it a dream come true, but he knows that he has a long way to go to establish himself in the elite.

— What did the debut in the first team mean to you?

– Fulfill your dream. You dream of playing in the First League since childhood, and on top of that you played at the Bernabéu, which is an incredible environment, but I am aware that I still have a lot to do.

— Maybe that dream would be dressed as a mattress manufacturer.

—Maybe, but I feel very identified with Celta and their values. I am equally happy to make my debut with Celta.

– What goes through your mind when Carvalhal says that he will take the field in Madrid?

— My nerves subsided and I was focused only on the game, on trying to be good and help the team. The day before I was told that Kevin still couldn’t last the whole game and I started to lose my mind a little.

— In addition, he had to change the band and play on the right side.

— In the beginning, it was a little difficult for me to define myself, but then I quickly adapted little by little.

—Javi Galán is suspended for the next game, do you have any illusions?

– At the moment, I’m only thinking about Celta B, and later we’ll see if I go to train during the week. If I get a chance, I’ll try to take it.

— What does Carvalhal ask of you when he goes with the first team?

— It conveys the idea of ​​the game that they have. In the first team, I usually play on the wing. He likes them to play high and open to make room for the wings, for the freer ends to come out.

— What differences did you notice between these two categories?

— Above all, the speed of the ball is very different, because of which everything happens much faster and you have less time to think. Every mistake punishes you.