News
WED 12.11.2014
With the 2014/15 season at its most passionate, and with each matchday better than the last, the star performers from last year's Liga Adelante are being garlanded with prizes. This is the case with both Borja Viguera and Xabi Irureta, two players who shone in the 2013/14 season, and are now plying their trade in Liga BBVA.
The forward from La Rioja, who received the Best Forward Award at the '2014 LFP Awards Ceremony', was rewarded by newspaper Marca with the Pichichi and Zarra Trophy as the top goalscorer and top Spanish goalscorer in the Liga Adelante. "I'm happy to receive the awards. This is thanks to my teammates and Alavés, because it was them who gave me the chance to play there and to score goals and thus be recognised with such prizes", Viguera exclusively told LFP.es.
His great year saw him to join Athletic Club. The attacker does, however, admit that the adaptation has not been easy: "I knew it would be hard to get minutes, but little by little I'm getting more and I'm happy with that". When asked on what the side's objectives are following a difficult start, Viguera was unequivocal and defended the side's recent form in Liga BBVA: "The most important thing is that we become ourselves again and we are getting that back. We are becoming the same strong side as last year, and that is important: to be the Athletic of before and seal many wins".
Eibar's security has the seal of Xabi Irureta
Another of the main protagonists last season was goalkeeper Xabi Irureta. The stopper became the fourth goalkeeper from the Basque outfit to win the Zamora Trophy in Liga Adelante, conceding only 26 goals in 39 games.
Despite this being the side’s first contact with Liga BBVA, stats show that Garitano's men are doing well, and they are encouraging fans to fill the Ipurua to help them move forwards: "We try to do our job well. This year we want to do things just as well. We know we have to do more work that other sides, but in this aspect we're doing well".
If there's one thing that can characterise the side and this group of players it is their courage and desire to fight for the whole game, as was seen against Rayo Vallecano, which ended in a hard-fought 2-3 victory: "We have to respect everyone, but fear nobody. I think that the key is hard work, to fight until the 90th minute and when the game is over, evaluate".
Finally, the 28-year-old said he felt happy with the confidence shown in him by the boss, and that he knows prizes come thanks to the work of the team last season: "This year we have the desire and we will work to achieve safety. We will give our all and this would be absolutely brilliant for us this year".
© LALIGA - 2014