Pablo Infante: "Now I enjoy what I have always dreamed of doing"

A lifetime dedicated to football, and to work; when nobody believed it was possible to do so, he did it. The world of elite football did not intimidate Spain's best-known bank employee. He played out of his skin at CD Mirandés, while building a future career and getting up at six in the morning to go to work. Pablo Infante, who made a name for himself after a sensational Copa del Rey in which he nearly took the side from Miranda de Ebro to the final, now dedicates his time exclusively to football with SD Ponferradina. Infante is enjoying their brand of possession and passing football more than ever.

LFP.es: A lot has changed in your life in the past year, how have you found the transition to Deportiva?
Pablo Infante: They have welcomed us with open arms in El Bierzo. Both my wife and I feel very loved here. As everyone knows, things are going well on the pitch so far. In that sense, the good personal relationships we have, along with the sporting side of things, are fundamental.

"I consider the Anduva to have been my home and it will continue to be for a long time; Mirandés and I grew together"

LFP.es: How difficult has it been to go from a club where you have been for nine years, a large part of your career?
Infante: When I signed my last contract in Miranda I didn't think there would be more. In my head I would start and finish my career with Mirandés. It was a very idiosyncratic club, where they really look after the players. We grew together, me as a player and the club as an entity, with the promotions to the Segunda División B and the historic one to the Liga Adelante. However, it turned out that new people came to the club and I had to go down another road.

LFP.es: I imagine that whenever you play against Mirandés, given everything that Pablo Infante meant in the Anduva, it will be quite emotional…
Infante: Of course, after nine years there… when I played against them in Ponferrada it was special. So I imagine it would be even more so in the Anduva. I consider it to have been my home and it will continue to be for a long time because of the affection I have for them. That match will be very emotional. I really want to play there because of the footballing atmosphere and the great fans they have. It is always great to go back.

LFP.es: Ponferradina entertain the fans with their attacking game: they score plenty of goals and play attacking football.
Infante: The manager demands that we move the ball around. He comes from a prestigious academy and he sees football as very attacking. In this case, we do everything we can to fulfil that vision. We move the ball quickly and play with a high tempo as a basis for trying to get the three points that are up for grabs every week.

"Manolo Díaz demands that we play the ball around. His principles are possession, quick ball circulation and a high tempo"

LFP.es: You have one of the most powerful strikeforces in the Liga Adelante. Berrocal, Yuri, Acorán, yourself… It also seems as if you have a great understanding.
Infante: Having an understanding with Tete, Berrocal and Acorán is quite easy, they are quality players and, above all, good people. They have helped us since the day we arrived here and that has benefitted the group in return.

LFP.es: I imagine it is fun to play for a team like that, with games such as the 4-4 with Barcelona B and the 3-3 with Recreativo.
Infante: We have a team with a lot of quality up front and although the attack has to be balanced out at the back, the numbers are there. We're in a good position in the table and we've progressed well. We have to polish those small defects in order to reach the main goal which is those 51 or 52 points that will keep us safe.

LFP.es: The Toralín is practically impregnable. You are used to playing in the Anduva, it must be a great feeling playing in those small grounds where the people are behind you.
Infante: You can feel the difference in those grounds. They are two groups of fans who like to enjoy themselves and the people cheer you one whatever the team does. A clear example of it is the game against Barcelona B: we were losing 1-3, we got it back to 2-3 and the fans began to cheer, they made it 2-4 and people continued cheering; at 3-4 it was crazy and when we made it 4-4 it was like a like a force of nature that carried the team onwards. They are our number twelve and a huge asset to have at home.

LFP.es: Do you feel like, given your talent, with a little more luck in your career, you could have played in the Liga BBVA?
Infante: Any player would like to play in the Liga BBVA, but personally I like to analyse what I'm doing at the moment. I take away the positives and value everything I have: the city I live in, the team, my teammates, etc. I am enjoying it at the moment, we're competing well and we'll try and have a good year. Hopefully we can play in the Liga BBVA with Ponferradina, but our goal is to stay up. Whatever will be, will be.

"Hopefully we can play in the Liga BBVA with Ponferradina, but our goal is to stay up. Whatever will be, will be"

LFP.es: How are you finding football now that you can fully dedicate your time to it?
Infante: Firstly, I'd like to thank my bank for the chance it has given me to enjoy some leave. At this level of competition, which requires so much hard work, it is very difficult to do both things. Bodies need rest before playing, rather than getting up at six in the morning… Now I have the chance to enjoy what I have always dreamed of experiencing. Obviously, rest and habits change things and that means having a body that is better prepared for top-level competition.

LFP.es: What are your wishes for 2015. How will Pablo Infante spend Christmas?
Infante: Above all, I'm wishing for health, for us to stay injury-free and that we can continue to compete in this division. Those would be my wishes in terms of football. My wife is from Extremadura, from a village next to Zafra, so we'll be there for a short week until the 29th, when we have a break before going back to training.