Interview with Brais Méndez: "The psychologists helped me, I was a kid and I didn't know how to handle criticism"

Brais Méndez

(Mos, 1997) is Galician, from the Rías Baixas,

fan

, one of the stars of the club of his life and international for the national team.

And, despite everything, they have whistled him in his stadium, like so many in so many fields.

Here he reasons the face and the cross of football, success and criticism, and a mental health that is more important every day in sport.

The Galicians visit the

tomorrow

(9:00 pm), where they will face their idol

.

The Twitter account was deleted. Why? It was two years ago. Behind the screen, the people behind are free to put whatever they want, obviously, but I think there comes a point where they go overboard. And no longer for me, but for my family, it did me no good and I decided to withdraw from that world. Did you do it more for your family or for you? Did criticism affect you? It always affects you, but what affects you the most is seeing those close to you suffer. Yes, it is true that Twitter has good things, that most of the information you find out there, but it has this negative part that I did not profit from. You have been whistled in your own field when you were young and canterano. How did you experience that? At that time it affected me a lot. He was a

who had just debuted and had been in the elite for a very short time. I did not know how to manage that situation, but now I have matured a lot, I have worked with professionals who have understood me, have known what was happening to me and have given me a hand. I think they have helped me to know how to manage it, which is the most important thing, because they can whistle you anywhere. Mental health is a topic that is being talked about more and more in the world of sport. How did that work you did materialize? I recommend it to everyone. I think people have the wrong concept of what it is to talk to a psychologist. It is good for everyone and helps you in any way. In my case, it was working on myself, not on what people were talking about, just focusing on myself, my confidence and my self-esteem to know that, despite the circumstances,you have level and confidence and that nobody is going to get you down from there no matter how much they whistle or applaud you. Knowing what you are. How mental is football? I think a lot more than we think. You can play football very well, but if you are not prepared to take that pressure, to play in complicated fields or to be whistled, you are not prepared to play in an elite sport, be it football or another. Those moments are what determine if you are a true elite athlete or you play because you are good at it and it is aTo play on difficult fields or to get whistled, you are not prepared to play in an elite sport, be it soccer or another. Those moments are what determine if you are a true elite athlete or you play because you are good at it and it is aTo play on difficult fields or to get whistled, you are not prepared to play in an elite sport, be it soccer or another. Those moments are what determine if you are a true elite athlete or you play because you are good at it and it is a

. Now the Bernabéu awaits you. Is there some stage fright in these types of fields or do they motivate you more? It is very easy to motivate yourself at the Bernabéu or at the Camp Nou, they are the simplest fields. You're playing in the best stadiums against the best teams, so anyone who doesn't come out motivated doesn't like football. No más.¿Está crazy

Coudet? (Laughs) He has his things. But I think that madness comes in handy. Do you know 'La Chachoneta'? I know her. And I'm a fan of 'La Chachoneta'. I'm on it, without a doubt. Of all the methods that a coach uses, which is the one that has surprised you the most about Coudet? The closeness and good vibes, but without confusing, and pressing ourselves and taking us along a path that working as what we are doing is the way to be a winning team. That is the secret. There is a video of Coudet, from his time in Argentina, which went viral because he replied to the rival fans: "Cuckold yes, but never cold chest." Is that a bit what you have instilled in them? We were a team that ran, but ran badly. Now we run at a higher intensity and run well. Since he arrived he has instilled that in us,It is not worth running in any way. What do Galicia and Vigo have to hook footballers? The famous morriña (laughs). Once you step on this, you fall in love. We have the case of Nolito, who is Andalusian but half Galician, Murillo does not want to go ... Vigo is different. The aroma, the food ... It's a spectacular place. Are you losing money playing for Celta? Well, I don't know. I play here because I want to, because I like it, because I'm from Celta and they gave me the opportunity and I have to be grateful. You left Vigo, Santa Mariña, and went to Villarreal at the age of 13. This summer we have the case of Bryan Bugarín, MVP of the LaLiga youth tournament that Celta has left to play for Real Madrid. In your experience, what would you say to him and other children his age? Well, they are totally different cases. I was at the Santa Mariña,a neighborhood club, and I was able to go to Madrid, Zaragoza, Celta, Deportivo ... I decided on Villarreal and not because of money or because it was the biggest club, but because I went to see the facilities and decided it was the best for me at that time. I do not regret it, it was two years and I matured a lot, but it is also true that I missed Vigo and my family a lot, and thanks to being back I am where I am. The change of coming from Villarreal and being close to my family is not worth the money. If Madrid calls you, it is difficult to manage, I imagine that many kids from Spain will like to play for Madrid, but you also have to guide yourself and value many things. Hopefully he does very well. An idol. I can say many, but Benzema, for example. He seems like a superlative player to me, since I was at Lyon. Removing Messi,Right now he is one of the best in the world, one of those who best understands the game and the ones who makes his team play the best. And he also has the goal. He is a different striker, of whom there are very few, and one who is valued at times. Do you find Spanish football boring? Not boring. I understand that people may like the Premier more, but we are a powerhouse in football and most teams have copied the model that clubs here follow. What do you do in your free time? I play the Play Station a lot (laughs) and I watch a lot of sports. NBA, tennis, paddle tennis, golf ... Is there a lot of addiction to the console in the locker room? Well, there are some who have enough (laughs). I am one of those who like to take the Play to the rallies, when we spend the night out. Last year I took it, we won several games away and Chacho told me to always wear it,not to leave her in Vigo. So no problem, are you superstitious too? Yes. I choose the leg with which I enter the field, I try to think about what I did the last day we won and repeat it so that everything goes well ... From the morning. If the previous weekend we won and I went to sleep after having breakfast, this weekend I will do the same (laughs). Most of us are like that. What do you think of the Super League? I think it is loading all the beauty that football has had for years. I understand the part of the big clubs, who complain about economic issues and want to make a more ambitious competition, but we must not forget that football is not the NBA, it is not a private league, there are more teams and there is much more behind than a few large teams. I think it is unfeasible, it would be charged to the rest of the clubs that have a history behind.We are in a time of many proposals. There is talk of a World Cup every two years, it would be strange, really. The feeling it gives me is that the calendar is getting tighter and tighter and there are no dates. The body needs a break and playing 90 minutes every Wednesday and 90 minutes every Sunday is unfeasible for anyone, you burst somewhere. There are things in which they think of everything except the footballer. If he had not been a footballer, what would he have been? Well, I have never considered it. I like the whole world of sports, not just soccer. Also the world of animals, mathematics, economics ... Commentator? I am a fan of many sports. The least I see lately is football. Before I watched a lot but now I disconnect watching NBA, NFL, tennis, paddle tennis ... It is part of these studies that say that young people are watching less and less football. Yes, it is true.When you are inside for so long you need to disconnect and forget about football. I feel like if I keep watching football all the time I will go crazy. Then I see summaries, but if I am at home I prefer to wear the Play or a game of paddle tennis or tennis.

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