De Marcos: “I feel very proud of being born Athletic supporter”

Óscar de Marcos has been the first one to have the first virtual interview this week. The flexible player from Alava has answered the questions that both supporters and media have sent to him through the different official social networks of the club.

“I feel very proud of being born Athletic supporter and to be able to defend this unique philosophy against the rest of the world. I feel privileged to defend Athletic wherever we go and with a bunch of friends“. De Marcos stated when being asked about the feeling of belonging.

Playing at The Cathedral for the first time was a “dream come true“. “Everyone has an objective and when I played at San Mamés, even before I jumped into the field, when I knew I was going to be the captain; I felt I’d touch the sky. It’s true that when you achieve it, you mentally prepare yourself for another aim and now we have one that I’ve been thinking about for some time“.

Last Saturday the final of the King’s Cup (Copa del Rey) against Real Sociedad should have been played in Seville. De Marcos lived that day like this: “We all dressed up for Athletic here at home, we made a video call with my family and my wife’s family and we enjoyed a special meal“. “Winning the Cup and being able to take out the Gabarra (small boat used to celebrate the titles) would be a dream. Let’s hope that this situation finishes, because the nice thing about winning a Cup is to be able to enjoy it with all the fans“.

“The Super Cup was something unique“, he answered when he read the question that asked for his happiest moment with the red-and-white shirt. “It’s true that the 4-0 win at San Mamés was incredible, but we were so afraid we wouldn’t make it when we were so close to the title. So I am going to keep the Manchester match; we did play a unique match and I enjoyed it as if there were no tomorrow“.

It was precisely that 2011/12 UEFA Europa League qualifying match against Manchester United and their two goals in that round that has been described as “one of the most beautiful memories I have in football“. “It was a night that the players and fans will never forget“, he said, referring in particular to the first leg at Old Trafford. From that time, he valued Marcelo Bielsa’s “values of life and appreciated small gestures: I have learned a lot with him, I have him in an altar“.

The most beautiful goal of his entire career has been “the one of Tromso, mainly because it was my first year“, although “the one I value most is the one against Manchester“. Etxeberria and Ronaldinho were his football idols, and Gurpegui “a reference” to him. He mentions Fito & Fitipaldis as his favourite band and he is not considering, so far, writing another book after making his debut with ‘Togo’.