Aduriz: "We want to fight for the European spots"

After improving and showing their best in the last few Liga BBVA games, Athletic Club are back in the fight for the European spots this 2014/15 season, something which is their main objective this campaign, as Aritz Aduriz (San Sebastián, 1981), exclusively explained to LFP.es

LFP.es: Given the recent results and how the side has improved, what are the objectives for the rest of the season?
Aduriz: The objective is to always improve on what you have previously achieved. With the bad run we had, that might be a bit difficult, but there’s still a long way to go in the season, a lot of games and we’d like to be towards the top of the table and compete for the European places, but it’s still early. We’re carrying on improving our numbers to get into those places, but the objective is to do our best.

"We’ve had problems making chances on the pitch, but it’s nothing to do with whether I’m playing or not"

LFP.es: Last year you beat your 2012/13 tally with 16 goals. Do you think you can beat that number again this season?
Aduriz: The objective is to always improve. What you’ve done in the past is just that, and you always want to get better and build on those number, which is what I’ll try to do. It’s a nice, but difficult, challenge and I’ll try to do it.

LFP.es: The side are struggling to create chances if you’re not playing. Do you think this is something that can be solved in the short term?
Aduriz: We’ve had problems making chances on the pitch, but that’s got nothing to do with whether I play or not. It’s difficult and we know we have to improve this facet. Last year we were able to create a lot of danger but now this is what we are finding difficult and we’re trying to find it again.

LFP.es: Do you sometimes miss playing with a second striker?
Aduriz: Last year we played in the same system as this, and we were more than capable of creating chances then, and therefore there’s no excuse for this year. 

"We have an enviable and very professional squad. People who don’t always play are always there, training to their best" 

LFP.es: Last year you said in an interview that your best goal was still to come and you were waiting for an important moment. A year on, has this goal come?
Aduriz: No (laughs). I hope that this goal is still to come and it is something more important than what I’ve done up to now.

LFP.es: One of your weapons is your spring and heading ability. Is it something that’s innate or have you had to work on it?
Aduriz: It’s all about practice. These aptitudes are something you must improve but I guess it’s all about doing it time and time again in training.

LFP.es: This year Xabi Etxeita has surprised. What does he bring to the side?
Aduriz: Xabi has been working hard with us for little reward for a long time and we value that a lot. But not just him. We have an enviable and very professional squad. Those who don’t always play are there, training to their maximum. This is what makes a side and Xabi is one of those players who has brought a lot. He’s been there without letting up and is now reaping the rewards for his hard work, showing that he’s a very competitive player and that he can help us a lot.

"With many of the Lezema players there’s guarantees that in the future there will be lots of important players for Athletic" 

LFP.es: How do you see the youngest players in the squad like Unai López, Ager Aketxe and Kepa?
Aduriz: They, like many other players from Lezema, come with a bright future, and with guarantees in the future that there’ll be lots of important players for Athletic and that’s very important for this club, for its philosophy and the way it acts. It needs a lot of youth team players and Unai, Ager and Kepa are good examples of the work and show that we have a bright future.

LFP.es: What would Aritz Aduriz have been if he wasn’t a footballer?
Aduriz: I don’t know. I’ve always loved all sports and maybe it would be something to do with that. I’m sure it would have been something related to sport, although I don’t know exactly what or to what level, but since a young age I’ve loved it.

LFP.es: We’ve seen players with all sorts of habits and superstitions on the pitch. Do you have any?
Aduriz: No. It’s more, if I’m doing something all the time or if it’s becoming so habitual that I have to depend on it, I try to lose it. I try to make sure these things aren’t important, and don’t influence me. Things will go as well, or as badly, just behaving normally.

LFP.es: If you could be any one player from the history of the game, who would you be?
Aduriz: It’s difficult to chose one. There’s so many good players that I couldn’t just say one. There’s lots of players who I really like and I can’t pick just one of them.