Xavi Malián extends stay at FC Porto: “Now I see why I came” | OneFootball

FC Porto confirmed this Tuesday the extension of the contract with Xavi Malián, the goalkeeper of the roller hockey team who has represented the club for seven seasons. The Catalan goalkeeper, 36 years old, arrived in Invicta in 2019/20 and has already won the “Intercontinental Cup, a Continental Cup, and another Champions League, international trophies that are joined by three National Championships – two of them consecutive, in the last two seasons –, two Portuguese Cups, a Supertaça António Livramento, and an Elite Cup.”

“It’s a very emotional moment for me because I really like being here. I love FC Porto, the people, and being able to continue enjoying this Club is a reward and a privilege. I am very grateful to FC Porto and I want to keep giving everything for the club, as I have done so far, so I’m sure everything will go well. I never imagined that this club could be my home, but the truth is that, from the very first day, it became a home for me and my family. We are very happy with the people of this city and I couldn’t ask for better. It was the perfect choice and I am very grateful,” said Malían to the club’s website.

Identification with the club: “My values are very similar to those of FC Porto, from the Porto spirit to the will to give everything on the field. I identify a lot with the Club and now I understand why I always wanted to play here.”

Blue and white DNA: “There is something special about FC Porto and the people from the North, I think it has to do with the passion that everyone feels for this Club. I remember seeing people crying in the stands at my first game against Benfica and that left a big impression on me. I am also a very emotional person and that made me fall in love with this very special Club.”

Being from Porto: “Sometimes I’m walking down the street and I run into people who try to convey to me the demands of this Club and who make me always give my best for them. When we step onto the field, we know there are a lot of people involved. Besides that, I notice that people are very proud to be from FC Porto, but that no longer surprises me, because I am too. That pride is something that can never be lost and that only we understand.”

The most special title: “There are many special trophies for me in the Museum, but I wish there were more and I hope there will be. All the titles I’ve won at FC Porto have had a special flavor. I remember all the championships, especially the one we won at home against Benfica, in a pavilion full of fans with whom we could share our achievement. I felt a great joy.”

The first trophy: “I still didn’t realize the responsibility of playing for this great Club. I knew the history, but I didn’t have a sense of it. When I played that game and saw so many fans in the stands, I started to understand what it was to play for FC Porto. Over time, this Club became even more special and exceeded all my expectations.”

Dragões de Ouro: “When they told me I was going to win, I thought it was a joke. It was a huge pride for me, a recognition of my work, but, as I said at the gala, any of my teammates could have received it. They thought it should be me and I was very grateful. Every time I step onto the field, I remember those Dragões de Ouro and feel the responsibility to give everything in every game to repay what FC Porto has given me.”

Plans for the future: “Only as the years go by can we know if we have left our mark on a Club or not. I am very ambitious and always want more, so I hope the coming years will be very beautiful. I will work to achieve more successes.”

Back-to-back championship: “It was very good. We hadn’t been back-to-back champions for a long time and that shows how difficult it is to play in the Portuguese League. Our championship is very good, but also very demanding. We try to win every game, but sometimes it gets complicated. We have to be very humble to be happy and to go after the three-peat, which is what we all want.”

A demanding season: “It was a tough season, we went through very difficult moments, especially in the second half of the Championship. We had injuries and that cost us a lot, but we united, we fought, and we made it. When the games end and you are champion, you remember the tough moments, the family, the work, the dedication, and the sacrifices, but it’s all worth it when we can be happy and make Porto fans happy.”

Reaction to defeats: “Last season was very demanding psychologically, because I don’t know how to lose and we even had some heavy defeats. I remember losing to Juventude Pacense and feeling that defeat like a stab. It was hard to get over, but it helped me realize that we have to be humble, otherwise we will always face more difficulties.”

About Leonardo Pais: “Leo is a spectacular person. He is one of the most important players on the team and, even though sometimes he doesn’t play as many minutes or appear as much on social media, he has a very important role within the Club. I am very grateful to have him as a teammate and he knows he can count on me for whatever he needs. FC Porto has an incredible goalkeeper, ready to play at any moment.”

Family and Porto heritage: “My children are big Porto fans, they spend the day singing FC Porto songs, they like to come to the games and I love seeing my family in the stands. Sharing these moments with them is very special, they deserve it. When we’re not doing well, it’s our family who is there for us and it’s very important to live these good moments with them.”

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