• 18th day Classification

It is noon of interviews in Lezama and between the press the time is killed making bets on who of all will later go to eat at home. The name of the two reporters of EL MUNDO is not even mentioned, because those who know Yuri Berchiche well (Zarautz, 1990) warn that he is a serious, respectful and affable guy at short distances, nothing to do with the reputation of haughty Some time ago he was placed and that the match was not at all justified. He is in fact the most punctual of all and, although he warns that he is in a hurry, he does not show it at any time in a talk without taboos.

«I used to be very impulsive, I was since I was little and I have played bad times. But experience has made me learn to have a little more patience and that has made me a better person. I think I have improved a lot in that aspect both on and off the field. Well, now I don't hear so much about me in that regard. This year I have a yellow in 15 games and it was for an entry, not to protest or anything like that, ”acknowledges Yuri, who as a youth left in bad ways - own and others - the quarry of Athletic, signed for Tottenham, left ceded to Valladolid, he knew the miseries of Second B, he stood out at the Real Sociedad, played in the PSG and is now immovable on the left side of an Athletic who a year and a half ago paid 24 million euros for him.

His has been an atypical sports career. I am happy with the career I have done, I have played in the PSG, which is one of the best teams in the world, and now I am in Athletic, which is a historic one. When I leave, I will be proud of myself and what I have achieved, but not everything was so good. With 20 years I thought about leaving football. He had been in Valladolid, always training with the first team and getting to debut in First. It was a young left back, which then did not abound, and I thought I could aspire to something better than a Second B. It was not the case, I think my representatives did not fight enough for me and I went into crisis a bit. We almost went down to Third with the Real Unión de Irún, from the second game until Christmas I didn't play a minute ... I wondered if following was the best. I decided yes, unfortunately I don't have any studies to do anything other than play football.

Nine years have passed since that moment of crisis until today, time in which he has lived experiences of all kinds in football. Perhaps he needs to be international with Spain, but Yuri does not see it as a pending task. “It would be nice to play a European Championship or a World Cup, of course. If he arrives he will be welcome, of course, but it is not something that ... I do not have it as an objective, ”he argues. A couple of years ago, he had the opportunity to be international for Algeria - his father is originally from that country - but said no.

How was that? After my last year at Real (2017), Lucas Alcaraz, who was a coach, called me but had played injured the last games of the season and the doctors recommended me rest in summer. And beyond that, although my father is Algerian, I do not identify with that country. I was born here, I am another Basque. It would have been nice, yes, but I didn't feel identified.

After that, he signed for PSG the same summer as Neymar and Mbappé did. A club, he says, is not the cricket cage that sometimes appears to be: «People have a very wrong picture of that wardrobe. There are many players who are the best in their position, everyone wants to play and score goals, of course, but the year I was there the atmosphere was very good. Same as here Athletic. I did not encounter any problems, we all got along very well ».

You who agreed with Mbappé. Do you think he will end up signing for Real Madrid? For all the rumors and what I hear in the press, I think he is destined to do so, that all roads lead to Madrid. The question is when, if in a year, two ... It will be very complicated, because the president is not a simple guy to negotiate, but I think his destiny is in Madrid and that he will be a very important player for they.

At the moment, it is he who will play tomorrow at the Bernabéu to face Real Madrid defending the Athletic shirt. A stadium that considers "the best in the world" and recognizes that "the first times intimidates, but then you get used to playing in it." It will also, with the classic hot coals still hot.

Do you fear that arbitration controversies may harm you? It doesn't have to. They will not be happy with that arbitration and could have a little influence in their favor, but I want to think that it will not affect us and I hope that it is so.Were you two penalties for Varane? Being honest, I think so. In my opinion, there were two clear penalties not whistled in favor of Madrid. This time they have been harmed, but in the end they sometimes ask you in favor and sometimes against it. Listen, a curiosity. The game is played on Fat Day. Are the players also aware of whether it is their turn? Yes, yes! In the locker room we have a sheet and everyone who wants to buy a tenth is signed up. I have two. And apart from the Fat, in the template we have a WhatsApp group with an application in which we each put 100 euros a month to see if we have the Euromillion. It is very difficult for him to play, but hey ... Let's see if he plays! We will all be very attentive.

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