Contents 4 PAYPAL INTERVIEW: SALVA 8 THE NIGHT WE REACHED A SEVILLA EUROPEAN CUP FINAL 10 TRAINING AT HOME WITH 12 REMEMBER? SIXTY YEARS ON VERÓNICA SEBASTIANES FROM OUR FIRST PROMOTION 14 IDDRISU BABA: AN 16 RESERVED FOR LEGENDS: DAVID UNFORGETTABLE YEAR CASTEDO 18 RECONNECTING HOME AND 19 RCD MALLORCA’S PES 2020 AWAY TOURNAMENT 2 RCDMAGAZINE 3 15-22 APRIL 2020 PayPal Interview: Salva Sevilla work with. ball. When you have the ball, you don’t really notice the physical work as much because it’s carried out “I’m sure things will get back to normal You recently turned 36-years-old, and despite in another way. Doing only physical work can be being a veteran of the game, have plenty football tiring and boring, but we’re aware that this is how soon” left in your legs. What you probably didn’t imagine things are right now. We have to prepare ourselves is being without football for so long while still in the best way possible, not lose our fitness and playing, right? hen Salva Sevilla signed for RCD of adversity, Sevilla believes an eventual return “In the mornings I train Mallorca from RCD Espanyol in 2017, to normality will be among the more celebrated We’ve been without football now for a long time, Wthe midfielder knew there was a genuine moments of his time at RCD Mallorca. without being with our team-mates, without getting with the team and in the possibility he would never play in La Liga again. together as a group and without playing games. Joining a Los Bermellones side which had just Hi, Salva. How are you getting on in quarantine? That feeling you get from competing in matches afternoons I train with my been relegated to Segunda B, there was a long way has been lost, although this isn’t the priority right son” to go before a player who had spent the majority I’m getting on well at home. I’m trying to get now. There’s an issue on the streets which we must of his career at Spain’s highest level could even first solve and for now the best medicine, or vaccine wait. I also try and play with the ball a little with my think about returning; and given he had not long for that matter, is to stay at home. We have to be son. In the mornings I train with the team, and in celebrated his 33rd birthday, a legitimate concern “We have to be aware of aware of the danger that exists. I’m sure things will the afternoons, I train with him. It’s something that as to if the legs of an all-action playmaker could change very soon and we’ll be able to enjoy football has been good for both of us. stand the test of such time. Any doubt as to the the danger that exists. and the hobbies we all have again. Everything will latter was quickly quashed on his league debut Football, right now is the go back to normal. That, without doubt, is the most against Atlético Saguntino, which upon reflection, important thing. was also perhaps a foreboding of what was to least important thing” come for Sevilla. Introduced in the 80th minute If it was difficult to escape doing exercise with the with the scores level at 1-1, Vicente Moreno’s through this in the best possible way and keeping boss before, surely it’s now impossible with the side had just won a free-kick on the edge of the my day organised the best I can. I have training, introduction of video calls... box. The Andalusian made an immediate beeline homework with my children, and in short, it’s about towards Abdón Prats who stood over the set-piece, organising yourselves so the day-to-day becomes Now it’s impossible! We’re under more control and following a short discussion with the game’s a little bit more enjoyable. than before, but I think that’s the best way to work. earlier goalscorer and a repositioning of the ball, Exercising alone is harder. Days were accumulating it was apparent who had assumed responsibility. A routine is something athletes are well and it was difficult to keep that same motivation “What if he pulls it off and the first thing he does is accustomed to, but having that become more for training. Now we see each other’s faces, we can score?”, the matchday commentator can be heard important than ever before? talk and make jokes. They’ve been really successful asking not once, but three times during a pause in so far, even if it has been through a screen. I think play which seemed to last an eternity. With one fell Exactly. The idea is to have a routine from when we’re getting on really well with the demanding swoop of the right leg, the masses packed into Son we get up and then getting everything organised. work we’ve been given and all this will help us be in Moix had their answer. Since scoring with his first In the morning I have training with the team by shape for when the competition can return. touch in red and black, the midfielder has been on video call and the afternoons are dedicated to a seemingly unstoppable upwards trajectory, yet doing homework with the children because it’s For technical players like yourself, is having to do a suspension to competitive football due to the also important they don’t miss out on what they’ve more physical work a greater challenge? Covid-19 outbreak has left a fairy-tale return to La been learning at school. We like to keep everything Liga with a bittersweet taste for the time being. organised and I believe we’re doing that an making It’s difficult for everyone. At the end of the day, every However, always one to find positives in the face a good job of it too within the limits we have to player wants to play football and have fun with the 4 RCDMAGAZINE 5 15-22 APRIL 2020 On that topic, we can’t forget about children who watching RCD Mallorca goals all day, so thanks are among those having a particularly tough to him I’m also seeing goals from my team-mates time, locked up at home and without a real and myself. understanding as to what’s happening... Speaking of goals, we’ve been posting the very My son is four-years-old and he’s not very aware of best on our social media platforms of late. Among what’s happening, which is normal. On days I have those was your free-kick against Saguntino on training, he goes to the RCD Mallorca Foundation your league debut for RCD Mallorca. You came and he never tires of asking me when he’ll be able on in the 80th minute to score from the edge of to train again and see his friends. He tells me how the box. What a start, right? much he misses them all, but he knows he can’t do what he wants to do right now, which is playing Every time I see that goal it makes my hair stand with his friends at Son Moix. We all hope this issue on end. We’ve all seen that free-kick a lot because is resolved as soon as possible so the little ones my children are always on their tablets watching can also get back to their normal lives, who need it old RCD Mallorca goals on the internet. Both the more than we do. commentator and following celebration make my hair stand on end because, honestly, I didn’t expect Are things easy to organise at home then? to come on and score at such a key moment in the game. When the boss made the change I’m honestly very lucky to have the wife that I have. after the foul, I saw that I could hit it. You don’t She takes care of the baby we had a few months come on knowing you will score, but it just came ago and he needs her more than ever right now. I out perfectly. It was a very beautiful and special take care of the other two, but we all get along very moment. well. We didn’t go out a great deal anyway prior to this, so we’ve not noticed the difference so much. Speaking of the past, let’s talk about your best However, as you said, the most serious thing is the year in front of goal. In the 2009-10 season of “We’ve experienced number of people dying – that’s the real tragedy. Are you taking advantage of these weeks to the Second Division, you scored an incredible 13 The situation gets increasingly complicated as watch some vintage football? What have you times for Salamanca – was the manager playing unforgettable things here days and weeks pass, and I hope there will be a been watching? you as a striker!? at Mallorca and I’m sure solution soon because what is happening is truly terrible. I’m watching a lot of games right now. It might No, I was playing in the same position as now, there will be more to appear like too much, but I’m always watching but it’s true it was my highest-scoring year. I was Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, you were living football, because the truth is: I love it.