Real Sociedad defender Rupérez recently gave an interview, where he looked back on his injury last year and discussed who he believes is the best player in the world today.
In addition, Rupérez also discussed his playing style and looked ahead to the future.
How do you feel lately? Joint training has started again.
"I've been feeling great lately, and I think everyone is very motivated right now. Especially for me, I haven't played for a year due to injury, and now I can't wait to get back on the field. I'm very happy and eager to prove myself."
Do you envy Oyarzabal? He's about to start his vacation.
"I do envy everything he's experienced, but yes, he deserves a vacation, doesn't he? He's worked hard all year and deserves some time off to relax."
You haven't been with him for long, but long enough to know what kind of person he is.
"Yes, I only started working with him this year, but it's no secret that he always guides and helps young players. Oyarzabal gives his all on the field and takes good care of his teammates off the field. It's a great honor to have a teammate like him. As a player, a captain, and a person, he is a role model for the team. We are all genuinely happy for Oyarzabal's achievements, and we believe he can achieve even more honors."
How is preseason joint training progressing?
"The players are adapting well, and not many people have gotten injured. The only one injured, Marín, isn't seriously hurt. The most unbearable thing is actually the high temperature; it's just too hot."
Is your injury okay now?
"Yes, I trained here all summer and didn't rest much, but that's what I needed. I know what I should do. My knee doesn't feel uncomfortable now; the injury is in the past. My ankle hurt a bit a few days ago, but it's all good now."
Did you do nothing but train in Zubieta all summer?
"Yes, yes, hahaha."
Isn't it lonely training alone?
"No, actually, there were others training with me, and we had a lot of fun. I was mainly worried that after a year without playing, there might be some discomfort when I returned to joint training, but luckily there wasn't. My physical condition is very good now."
Tell us about last year's injury.
"I got injured during a match against Bournemouth, but I didn't feel anything at the time, and the team didn't realize I was injured either. It was some time after the match that I started to feel some discomfort in my knee, but I didn't pay much attention to it then. I even participated in the entire warm-up that afternoon. The next day I woke up and found my knee swollen, so I went for an MRI and found out I had a lateral meniscus injury. It was really unlucky. Initially, I chose not to have surgery, firmly believing it was the right decision – and it turned out later that surgery really shouldn't have been done, because when I eventually agreed to surgery, it got infected... Knee surgery is truly something to avoid if possible, because it changes your original knee and can even affect your life. I had almost fully recovered through conservative treatment, but it still wasn't enough, so I reluctantly agreed to surgery. However, once the surgery was done, the entire season was written off, and things didn't go as we expected."
So why did you have surgery? Didn't you say you didn't want it?
"I really didn't want surgery, because I had no discomfort during low-intensity exercise, but during high-intensity confrontations, there was always a dull ache. For a while, I felt completely fine, but after participating in the team's highest-intensity training, I found it still hurt. To be honest, if I didn't want to play in La Liga, I wouldn't have had the surgery."
Tell us about your surgery.
"After the surgery itself, I actually didn't feel any pain at the time and was quite happy. After recovering and training for ten days, the physiotherapist said I would probably be back with the team in about a month, but suddenly I started to feel unwell. My knee swelled up again, and I developed a high fever. After examination, it was found that my surgery was infected, and I had to undergo another surgery, which was a series of blows. That period was very tough, and my emotions fluctuated quite a bit, but I always tried to maintain a positive attitude. I highly value the opportunity to be in the Real Sociedad first team. If this happened to an ordinary person without resources, they might give up football. But because I am a Real Sociedad first-team player, the club provided strong support. The large team of physiotherapists, team doctors, and rehabilitation staff helped me through this difficult period, and I am truly grateful to them. I also want to thank the team's psychologist, Ibarrondo, who always told us: you cannot control things that are not in your control; you can only control your emotions and how you face everything. I have always maintained a positive attitude. My teammates in the locker room all say I am a role model for dealing with adversity – despite all the difficulties, I still come here every day with a smile."
How did you feel when you came on against Espanyol in the final match of the season? Relieved or elated?
"Elated. To be honest, just being able to stand there was enough to make my heart pound. Things like preparing with teammates, eating together, and putting on the jersey in the locker room, you don't feel them when you're healthy, but when you return after a long injury, you realize every action has immense meaning for you. Oyarzabal once said that after his ACL tear, he always cherished every detail, and I deeply understood that after my knee injury last year."
Your year-long absence last season also meant you couldn't get playing time under your mentor Sergio... Do you regret his departure?
"Yes, of course, I'm very sorry. He and Rivas are both very good people, and I'm forever grateful for everything they did for me. My success today is entirely due to Sergio and Rivas's guidance. But there's nothing that can be done. No one can stay here forever. In a few years, perhaps I, perhaps many people on the team today, will leave... Everyone will inevitably have their final moment."
You played 45 minutes against Santander, so there really was no impact.
"Yes, absolutely no impact. I'm very happy. This major injury has also made me appreciate everything I have even more."
You came on in the second half, and the pace of the game was chaotic, but we saw you attacking actively.
"Yes, you all know I'm an attacking full-back, and I really love to attack. But I also know I need to improve my defensive abilities, because the wingers in La Liga are very strong, and I'm currently working hard to learn defense."
Many B team players participated in first-team joint training. Who do you think has the most potential to be promoted to the first team?
"I've been teammates with all of them, and we all know each other well. It's hard for me to say who has the most potential, but I have the best relationship with Beitia, so I hope Beitia can be promoted to the first team. Everyone saw his performance in the Segunda División last year, and I hope he can maintain his form and continue to improve."
Since we're asking you this question in an interview, it means we already consider you a first-team player...
"Last year, the club originally planned for me to play another year for the B team, but because I performed exceptionally well in preseason, they gave me the opportunity to be promoted to the first team. Unexpectedly, right before the league started, I suffered a serious knee injury. After my serious injury, the club not only renewed my contract but also expressed their trust in me from the very first moment, always supporting and helping me. To be honest, I only have gratitude for the club."
Real Sociedad has another Navarran. Why do Navarrans and Real Sociedad fit so well together?
"I'm not entirely sure. I think Gipuzkoans are a bit more reserved, while we Navarrans have more passion, fighting spirit, and drive. But honestly, we Basques, no matter where in Basque Country we're from, are hardworking, honest people."
Has your hometown adopted some "blue and white" colors because of you?
"Ah, my friends are still mostly Osasuna fans, and I will always support Osasuna, but they do come to watch Real Sociedad's matches now. My friends also came to the final in Seville, so yes, it has indeed taken on some 'blue and white'."
Why did you transfer from Osasuna B to Real Sociedad C at the time? Wasn't that a step down?
"Because Real Sociedad thought very highly of me. Their plan for me was to gradually move up from the club's youth system to the first team, rather than loaning me out here and there for development. Of course, being so highly regarded by Real Sociedad is also the result of my hard work over the years. When I made that decision, I was convinced it was the right choice. Leaving home is always difficult, but Real Sociedad is close to my hometown, so I can go back any afternoon if I want to, which is nice... Plus, Donostia-San Sebastián is arguably the best city in all of Spain. What more could one ask for than to play football here?"
At the Copa del Rey victory celebration, Elustondo said you were quite a talkative guy, even underwater you wouldn't shut up... Is that true?
"Ah, I am indeed a very outgoing person and I love to talk. I enjoy building good relationships with my teammates, and I think I'm someone who can bring the locker room together. I get along with everyone. When you feel very comfortable in a place, you show your truest self, and the real me is indeed a chatterbox... Elustondo's description of me is very accurate, and I'm happy about that."
You didn't play, but you participated in the celebration as a member of the winning team.
"Yes, I didn't play a single minute, but I truly felt like a part of the team, and I truly felt like I contributed to the team winning the championship. I did my best in the locker room, and the experience in Seville, and everything that happened when we returned to Gipuzkoa afterwards, I simply cannot put into words."
Well, it seems we've found Elustondo's successor.
"Elustondo is unique; to be honest, we already miss him. Elustondo is an incomparable person; he is someone who made history for the club. I would never dare to claim that I can succeed Elustondo... I don't think anyone can succeed him."
Tell us about your playing style.
"I am an attacking full-back, always pushing forward, actively pressing, and constantly overlapping. When the game is tight, my attacking ability can be a game-changer for the team. In addition, I am also very tenacious defensively, although I still have a lot of room for improvement in that aspect."
Do you usually like to watch football yourself?
"Yes, I'm a football fan."
Tell us about Matarazzo.
"Matarazzo, like me, is an outgoing person. He often takes the initiative to chat with people and cares about everyone's situation; he's a good person. Of course, he's quite strict during training, which is as it should be."
It's said that Matarazzo has picked up his old trade of playing with a three-man defense in training again? Is that true or false?
"We are currently practicing many tactics, but there is no definitive conclusion on how we will play in the new season, and Matarazzo hasn't spoken yet. Of course, whatever he decides, we will adapt, because he will definitely choose the playing style that is most beneficial to the team as the main one."
Does a three-man defense, meaning the use of wing-backs, create a more favorable situation for you?
"Indeed, I actually really like the three-man defense formation because it suits my characteristics well. If it's a regular four-man defense, the full-backs have a lot of defensive pressure, whereas in a three-man defense system, the wing-backs have less defensive pressure and can attack more freely, with greater freedom... Of course, I will adapt to any tactics the coach arranges."
Real Sociedad under Matarazzo was the team that conceded the most goals in La Liga. How did this happen? What are the solutions?
"Well, I think it was due to a combination of factors, but in fact, from forwards to defenders, I think everyone is working hard to defend, and no one wants to concede goals. I believe we will turn things around this year, I am certain of it, 100% certain, we can concede almost no goals like we did under Alguacil. We are very concerned about last year's concession statistics, so we are also specifically focusing on defensive aspects in training. I think we will have a good season defensively this year."
Why did the team experience a revival under Matarazzo last season?
"Actually, I think it was more of a shift in mentality than a tactical or technical issue. The team played pretty well during Sergio's tenure, but many matches just didn't yield the deserved results. But Matarazzo came in and immediately got points for the team. If you keep getting points, you start to believe in yourself and give it your all... Matarazzo brought a positive psychological cycle, and that's why the team revived."
What are the team's goals for this season?
"To fight for all honors, that's what the team is built for."
What are your personal goals?
"To have an excellent season. If I'm in good form, I'm sure I can deliver outstanding performances; if I'm not in good form, I believe Aramburu can do what I can't. I'm confident that we will all work together very well."
What do you consider to be the best goal of your career?
"The goal I scored against Salamanca."
What kind of goal do you dream of scoring the most?
"I dream of scoring a goal for Real Sociedad in a final."
What away ground do you most want to play at?
"The Bernabéu."
Who is your idol in football?
"Oyarzabal."
Who do you think is the best player in the world right now?
"Mbappe, Lamine Yamal."
Who is your favorite player in the World Cup?
"Porro."
Who is the player in your position you follow most closely?
"Hakimi."
Tell us about your teammates. What is Aramburu's most outstanding ability?
"His fighting spirit, drive, and defensive ability. Honestly, watching him defend is a pleasure."
What about Odriozola?
"His attacking ability, which is a role model for me."
What is your strongest point?
"Shooting."
Who are your best friends in football?
"Beitia and Jon Martín."
If you were to go out for a wild night, who would you most want to go with?
"Originally it would definitely be with Elustondo, but he's left the team. So it could be anyone, like Gorrotxategi, for example."
What about living together?
"With Goti, I actually lived with him before, and we got along very well."
Who is the craziest person in the locker room?
"Gómez."
What is your dream?
"To win a championship with Real Sociedad, but this time as a player on the field."
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