🙏 Oyarzabal's dream: I truly believe it can be our day | OneFootball

Real Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal spoke to the media in Seville with a mix of maturity and raw emotion. Ahead of the Copa del Rey final against Atlético de Madrid, the “txuri-urdin” leader expressed his firm belief that the team is ready to make history once again, but this time with a special ingredient: the support of their fans.

The pride of a final with the fans behind them

For Oyarzabal, this final carries a different meaning from the one won in 2021. The presence of nearly 30,000 Real Sociedad fans in the streets of Seville is, for him, the main driving force behind his motivation. “I feel enormous pride and happiness to be able to give them the chance to experience this. We were here five years ago in a very different way, and coming back now with our families is a huge joy,” the forward said, recalling the final played behind closed doors during the pandemic.

Positive nerves and a team-first focus

With the honesty that defines him, the captain admitted to feeling uneasy before the big occasion. “I’m nervous, I’m not going to hide it; it’s a good thing when you feel it in your stomach, it means you care,” he said. Despite being the hero of the last Copa triumph, he avoided picturing himself lifting the trophy or scoring again, instead putting the game plan ahead of individual achievements. “We believe in our plan and we have complete confidence in what we are as a group,” he added firmly.

A gesture of historic gratitude

Beyond the present under Pellegrino Matarazzo, Oyarzabal had an emotional message for those who helped pave the way. “We owe a lot to ‘Rino,’ but today is also a day to remember Sergio Francisco and Jon Ansotegi. Without their impact on this tournament, we might not be here,” he stressed. With his heart on his sleeve and his mind on the pitch at La Cartuja, the captain concluded: “It’s the chance to win a title with the club of our lives.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 CRISTINA QUICLER - AFP or licensors