Following the presentation of the restored Copa La Balesquida competition, Joaquín del Olmo answered questions from the press about the sporting situation of the team, as well as providing the latest update following yesterday’s meeting between the club and the Oviedo City Council.
With respect to the current on-pitch performance of the team, Joaquín del Olmo admitted that, “it’s not the ideal situation, and it’s not what we expected. It’s been a hard start, with injuries to key players. The Coach hasn’t yet found a team with his identity. We have had good and bad
moments at the start of this season, but we are on the route to recovery.”
Regarding the state of mind of the Head Coach, Juan Antonio Anquela, Joaquín commented that, “he’s fine, but annoyed both when he wins and when he loses. He wants to turn this around. We must give him time; he has our confidence. Everything appears bleak after a loss, and he lives football very intensely. Looking at him after we beat Reus, you’d have thought we’d lost! He is like that, and we won’t change him. We spent several years trying to bring him in.”
Talking about Toché’s injury, while still awaiting the results from the medical examination, Joaquín del Olmo explained that, “we accept responsibility for the risks. We have a budget, and we aren’t going to go crazy. People think that there is some of the budget remaining since we had a share campaign, but that’s not true. My boss’ idea is to balance the club’s books, and we have been repaying the debts. Obviously, I would like to use the money raised from share sales to make new signings, but we must repay the debt we inherited. We are clear about what we want. There was a risk, but we weren’t going to get into debt by going crazy. We must keep cool heads and analyse what we are doing. We must stay calm about Toché and trust in the squad we have.”
Asked about the possibility of dipping into the Winter transfer market, Del Olmo admitted that, “it’s always possible, and more so with the boss we have. In January, the window opens for signings and we can look at what the team needs. It’s a completely new team. I don’t like loans too much, but it’s another area of the market. We have been incorporating people from the academy. We have been working with them, and there are lads there who have now earned their first team place. It’s a shame about Viti. Everything happens for a reason, and the transfer window is also an option. We will work as directors and see what we have to do at all times.”
The press in attendance asked Joaquín del Olmo about the situation following yesterday’s meeting with the City Council, having previously heard the politicians’ side of events. “It seems strange to me that we said that nothing would leak, and within twenty minutes everybody knows.
Things aren’t as they have been told so far. The City Council defends what is best for them and we do the same for ourselves. Regarding repairs we have no complaints, but in other areas we disagree. When it comes to branding, they want us to pay interest, and we don’t think we should have to pay them there. We are negotiating but it’s not easy. It annoys me that things have leaked out, especially since we told the Mayor we weren’t going to release a statement when he asked us, and yet twenty minutes later two press friends spoke to me through the Press Officer to see whether I could confirm the information. It annoys me, but that’s how it is.”
Regarding the possibility of a new sports complex, Joaquín del Olmo made clear that the matter was being worked on with calmness, while trying to preserve a sense of belonging. “One thing I think about this club is that
everything is magnified. We have been through some very hard times. I admit that I don’t feel it in the same way as the people who lived through them do, but one thing which remains and is part of us is El Requexón. We don’t want to go somewhere which doesn’t belong to us and make an investment. We will try to extend El Requexón or take over ownership. We aren’t going to make an investment to then have to go back to negotiating again. I don’t want them to tell us that we are doing things badly in that sense. We want to leave a solid foundation for the Real Oviedo of the future. We are going to wait and see our options. Maybe we are mistaken in having such high expectations and should instead wait to see the team in the Primera División before taking these steps. We are growing little by little, and doing things with the best intentions.”
With respect to the decisions which aren’t being taken at an economic level, or which are being undertaken to preserve the club’s future, Joaquín del Olmo insisted that, “we aren’t going to pay money for land. We don’t have money, and we aren’t going to invest money in land which we could spend on the squad. Everything raised by the share campaign is going towards paying the debt, since Arturo has said that the club will have no debt within a year and a half. It’s an important point; we have to be self-sufficient. We haven’t created any debt since we’ve been here. All the errors we had to face, we did so with the money that we had.”
Admitting that the results haven’t been of the standard expected, and asked about the composition of the squad, Del Olmo explained that, “you can never be satisfied if you aren’t in the position you want to be in. The Coach has not had the whole squad available since he arrived. Many men have been unavailable. We thought Hidi and Fabbrini would be important in the team’s offensive play, but we haven’t had them. We must wait until we have everyone available to evaluate the squad.”
Talking about the results of the capital increase campaign which has now finished, Joaquín highlighted that, “the expectations were outlined by Arturo at the start, and have been met perfectly. We have to resolve one matter, and the results of campaign will become known soon. The share increase allows us to forget about the debt and begin to work for the future. Next year we have to pay €3.5m, but from the following year onwards we will start to work with zero debt. It’s Arturo’s idea; to achieve a self-sufficient club, and then work towards other goals.”
Also relating to Arturo Elías Ayub, Joaquín del Olmo commented that, “he often has a go at me. Sunday was a good example, but it is normal. When faced by any important situations that happen, you have to be able to turn it around, breathe and lift your head. At these times you see who is capable of turning things around. Arturo is always likely to have a go at me, particularly since when things go well he always wants more. We are working well, and must stay calm. This is a project and we must give it time.”
In addition, Del Olmo also spoke about two of the club’s former players. “I’m often asked about Esteban, and all I can say is that there is a verygood relationship. He is training, he has a contract with the club, and there are going to be surprises. People here always think that they know more than us, but we must go little by little. I have also spoken to Michu, and he is focusing on his own personal matters. We are conscious of what Real Oviedo is, and we must move forward little by little.”
Asked if he has a date set to leave Real Oviedo, Joaquín del Olmo was clear; “I don’t have a contract. If Arturo asks me to leave, I’m not going to demand nor ask for money, and if I go I won’t earn anything. I have objectives, I was put in place by my boss, since he knows everything that happens here. I can only say that in these four years there have been mistakes made which I regret, but we have had more successes than errors. We are working as a group with the Board of Directors. Although it seems that it all falls to me, that’s not how it is. We are growing little by little, but you never know when it could be time to leave. Life is like that, and you must enjoy moments. I am happy in Oviedo. I like the challenge and the pressure.”
Finally, Del Olmo was again asked about the possibility of movement in the Winter transfer window as well as what happened to the prices of players wanted by Real Oviedo in the Summer. He insisted that, “we weren’t going to pay the excessive amounts which were being demanded. We have a valuation of players, and it’s complicated. All of them want three-year contracts, but we limit them to two. It’s true that players like Borja Valle and David left us. With regard to David, nothing is as has been said. I have a very good relationship with him, but as long as I am here his agent will not enter; he caused the mess. When a player comes to sign for Real Oviedo, they often think that because it is such a big club and has Carso behind it that we will pay huge amounts, but that’s not the case. We aren’t going to go silly. We knew the risks, and now we just have to work hard,” he concluded.
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