15 goals in the previous season, 21 – in the current one: Xisco, Spanish forward of “Dinamo” Tbilisi, is the best top scorer legionary of all time at the national championship. Many football players have told me: “He seems does not run much but he always moves and hurts our eyes. You cannot take your eyes off him”.
“World Sport” has visited the 32-year-old Xisco Munoz Llompart on Dighomi base of “Dinamo”. We have talked for a long time. In spite of that Mikel Alvaro called him, he did not let me feel that he was in a hurry.
You can find out personality of Xisco in this interview.
- You have scored 21 goals in the championship. Is it your goal to become top scorer?
- The most important for me is that “Dinamo” becomes champion. However, it is pleasant that my goals help “Dinamo” to achieve success. I have good assistants. Merit of my teammates is also big.
- You are not tall but you often score. For example, you scored both goals against “Chikhura” with your head…
- I did not make accent on head play but the fact is that I score. Coto and Merebashvili gave me good assists.
- You often play as a forward in “Dinamo” but you were a left winger or the second forward in Spain. Did you offer coaches to be a forward or did they choose this position themselves?
- It happens because of the interests of the club. Yes, I played as a left winger but I have played on four different positions in my career: on right, on left, as the second forward, forward. The most important is to be in lineup.
- If it is not a secret, which clubs invited you?
- Two clubs of the Turkish Super Liga invited me. Alex Garcia contacted me and presented projects of “Dinamo” to me. The projects were to play at the group stage of Champions League or Europa League. I liked these projects. I found out history of “Dinamo” and its traditions. Today I am sure I made a right choice that I did not go to Turkey.
- So, do you like everything here?
- Yes, I do. I made a lot of friends here. I live in a beautiful country. I cannot say anything negative. It is obvious that the Georgians have loyal attitude toward foreigners.
- Which is your favorite place in Tbilisi?
- Here are a lot of remarkable places. I live near 9 April Park and I like it very much.
- Let us return to “Dinamo”. Compare the last and the current seasons’ clubs. What has changed?
- Now we play better team play. Of course, I do not say that in the previous season we played indecorously but now the Spanish football players got used to the environment.
- What can you say about the Georgian Championship? Does this playing style suit your taste?
- Good matches are held here. I already feel intensity while “Dinamo”-“Torpedo” matches. I know it is a special match. I compare it to “Sevilla”-“Betis”. I like frequent contact with ball. I like young football players too. For example, from “Dinamo” - Lasha Parunashvili, Nika Kvekveskiri, Giorgi Papava and others.
- Which football player would you distinguish from the Georgian Championship? I do not mean only from “Dinamo”…
- From goalkeepers – Giorgi Loria, from defenders – Givi Kvaratskhelia, from midfielders – Giorgi Merebashvili and Irakli Maisuradze, football player of “Dila”, from forwards – Jaba Dvali.
- The best partner in the team?..
- We play together in offence and I will name Jaba. He is fast, restless. He uses even a little chance. I was the only forward. Now we are two. I think Jaba and I are good pair.
- “Dinamo” leads with 4-point handicap. How do you think are you close to the championship?
- We must not relax because three important matches are ahead. Three away matches – against “Zestafoni”, “Zugdidi” and “Dila”.
- Do you consider this season as the best one in your career?
- Yes, it is one of the best seasons. When you go abroad there is a chance that you cannot show your possibilities completely. Fortunately, it did not happen in my case. I hope better season is ahead: I want “Dinamo” to play at the group stage of Champions League.
- Many have said that Spanish and Georgian mentalities are very similar. What can you say about it?
- There is not a big difference. At first, there was a language problem but people tried not to confuse me. Sometimes they put hand on my shoulder to let me know. I feel warmth at supermarket or anywhere I get.
- Last year Georgian U-17 team beat Spain in the elite round group. Did you watch the matches? What can you say about the Georgians? Many of them were brought up in “Dinamo”…
- I watched and I liked the play of the Georgians. Let us take three components: fitness, technic and tactic. They were good at all of them. I think, in the future this generation can go through to World or European Championships
- Last September the Georgian national team played well against the team of Vicente del Bosque. Have you talked to the football players of the Spanish team after the match?
- Yes, I talked to Casillas and Xavi. They praised the Georgian team. The Georgians played with good tactic. It was the only chance to achieve success against Spain. The Georgians had two moments. Coto and I watched it together. After the first match, we said it would have finished 0:0. Georgia defended itself well and Loria played incredibly well.
- It is fact that many grands cannot do anything against Spain. Why others cannot play as well as Spain?
- The reason is simplicity. It is easy to make assist in short distance than in 25 meters. It is easy to say but hard to do. Improvisation is added to the technic. For example, Sergio Ramos cannot make assists like Iniesta and Xavi but he does his job great. I want to say that high class football players play for the Spanish team.
- You have played for Spanish U-21 team but you could not get in the national team. There was time when they thought to call you up. Did you have hope?
- When I transferred to “Valencia”, I really hoped then but I got injured and was not on form. Vicente or Xisco? They thought about it before I got injured. Then, Vicente was without any opponent. He gained confidence and played perfectly in “Valencia”. It is incredibly hard to get in the Spanish team. For example, Michu who was named as the best new player of English Premier League and scores goal almost in all matches, is not called up for the national team. That is why there is a great competition.
- Was Rafa Benitez the best coach in your career?
- Yes, he was.
- The best teammate you have ever had?..
- Pablo Aimar in “Valencia”. He is not only a technic player but also physically strong. Besides, Aimar is a quite intelligent person.
- In 2004 “Valencia” won three titles: Spanish Championship, UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup. How do you think, if you have played at Champions League, would you have a chance to win it? “Porto” of Mourinho won then and defeated “Monaco” in final.
- It is hard but not impossible to imagine. Champions League is another level. One day you can wake up and do not play well. It happened to “Barcelona” when lost to “Milan” 0:2. Something happened to “Barca” that day.
- Who did you consider as a leader in that “Valencia”?
- I cannot name only one. Roberto Ayala, Santiago Canizares, Ruben Baraja, Pablo Aimar. They were leaders and exemplary people in real life.
- You often were a substitute. Did it offend you?
- No, it did not. I knew where I was going. “Barcelona”, “Real”, “Valencia” – these three clubs were the best. Besides me, many wanted to get there.
- How do you think, will other team interfere in the championship rally of “Barcelona” and “Real”?
- I do not think so and issue of TV rights is the main here. “Real” and “Barcelona” are paid so much money that their big budget increases more. “Barca” and “Real” are leaders not only in Spain but in Europe too.
- Tell us about your family…
- My wife lives in Tbilisi and is happy to be here. Everybody helps and treats us well here. We do not have a child yet. My wife likes Tbilisi so much that she told why not to stay here forever.
- We know you want to play for the Georgian national team. Did anybody contact you from Georgian Football Federation?
- I would play for the Georgian national team with great pleasure. I talked about it to president of “Dinamo”. Two years must pass. These two years will pass in June. Nobody contacted me from the federation but I repeat I would play for the Georgian national team with great pleasure.
Ilia Nanobashvili