JOAN JORDÁN: "WHOEVER DOESN'T FALTER MENTALLY WILL HAVE LOTS OF SUCCESS"

After nearly a year at his new home, acknowledges that his expectations have been met: "I knew I was coming to a very big club, with enormous expectations and a huge fanbase behind them. It's one of the biggest clubs in Europe and it was a unique opportunity for me. I was very excited and I've enjoyed it a lot. If it had ended now we'd be in the Champions League and few people would blame us, but there's eleven matches left and the team is ready, with so much energy and desires to approach this final straight". 

Jordán went a bit further and spoke about his performances: "It seems very similar to my first year at Eibar. I feel important, I'm getting quite a few minutes and playing many matches. Two years ago I was playing in the second division and I'm very happy with my performances. I know what club I'm at and next year will be my year. I feel confident and I'm keen to approach it". 

"It seems very similar to my first year at Eibar. I'm very happy with my performances"

Going into more detail on this idea, the midfielder knows this season will help him greatly: "Regarding featuring, my aim was to adapt quickly and perform straight away. I think I've done it, I'm ambitious and I know myself. I feel strong on a personal level and I think it's the moment to take a step forward at the club. Here they took a gamble on me and I'm so happy with how the year's going, but next year I'll already have 40 games under my belt, I'll know how everything works and I'll know how to control myself better at certain times. I always try to soak up as much as possible of every situation, and I feel strong ahead of next year, with that strength and maturity". 

At first everything was a mystery, but now they know that the work at home paid off: "It's something different and during the lockdown we all had doubts on a physical, tactical level... But it was to start training and you see that the work of the coaching staff, especially on a physical level, is very good and we feel really well. We are prepared, with a very big squad and there are eleven matches in five weeks, but there will be five substitutions which will be good for us. There will be opportunities for everyone and today we're only thinking about La Liga. We are looking forward to Thursday and from then on, little by little. When the season is over we will talk about Europe".

"The work of the coaching staff is very good and we feel really well"

But he also gives a lot of emphasis to the mental side of things: "There will also be games against teams in the bottom half of the table that are harder at the end of a season. Every game is massive, at home and away... It's going to be an eleven-match league, difficult but exciting and beautiful. Whoever is mentally stronger and doesn't falter will have lots of success. We have had two hard months, people come back with enthusiasm and because one day you have an unexpected defeat or some situation you can't linger on it, because after three days you play again and you have to win. In those five weeks, the most mentally prepared team, and I trust my team a lot, is going to win".

Although returning to the pitch was already great news, he says the group sessions make a difference: "When we all got together it was like saying 'finally'. It's been a tough few months, you train at home and we're well fortunately, but it has nothing to do with group training or exercises on the pitch. We've prepared ourselves for the moment when it's time to adapt quickly. The other day we played a little game and the feeling was very good, which is what we wanted. If you let yourself go during these months, well you tell me. I remember the first day we went to train at the training ground and we were excited like kids going to get a trophy".

"When we returned to training we were excited like kids going to get a trophy"

He is aware that home advantage might not be so decisive, but even so, it always is in Nervion: "For me it's a little bit unknown because they say that the home team loses that advantage, but for me they that they don't take that away when you play at the Sánchez-Pizjuán. I wish it was with the fans, who give us spectacular strength, but it's my home and I feel more comfortable there. On a personal level, if they gave me the choice I would play all eleven games there. Maybe it won't be so key, but we have to be strong there because it's our home and we feel it".