Jeffren: "I rediscovered myself as a player when I returned to Spain"

Jeffren Suárez (Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela, 20 January 1988) is well-known in Spanish football. He made his Liga BBVA debut under Josep Guardiola with FC Barcelona, and even found the net in a clásico against Real Madrid. After some inconsistent years in Portugal, the Spanish-Venezuelan returned to Spain to rediscover his best football at R. Valladolid CF, now in the Liga Adelante. He feels at home in the city, as he told LFP.es.

LFP.es: It is your first year in the city and the team are in the playoff zone, how are things going in Valladolid?
Jeffren: Pretty good, we've started the matches quite well and we're at the top end of the table. I feel better. I'm doing better than I was expecting and I'm improving with every day and every match, so I'm happy.

LFP.es: This team is traditionally in the battle for promotion, does that add pressure to the squad?
Jeffren: We shouldn't see that as pressure. We should take it as a team that should be in the Liga BBVA and we're going to give everything to get up there, to finish top or to play in the promotion playoffs, but we have to win promotion no matter what.

"Although I still have a little way to go, I'm fighting to get back to my best"

LFP.es: What did it mean to you to return to Spain?
Jeffren: I'd been wanting to come back to Spain for a while. I was away for two and a half years, but not very good years. Returning to Spain really has led me to rediscover myself as a player. That's why I'm happy to see that I am improving as a player and helping the team where I can.

LFP.es: Would you say you have rediscovered your best football with the Blanquivioletas?
Jeffren: I know I'm still not back to 100% but everyone is helping me. The boss is giving me plenty of minutes and that really is important for a footballer. I'm feeling really good day to day, I'm very comfortable in the team and I'm happy because of that. Although I still have a little way to go, I'm fighting to get back to my best.

LFP.es: Your upbringing in the game left little to be desired, making your Liga BBVA debut under Guardiola.
Jeffren: That was an amazing experience. I have to thank Guardiola for that opportunity; thanks to him and a lot of managers I am where I am now and I'm very happy with those years.

LFP.es: You now play under the orders of Rubí, a young manager who is known for his commitment to possession.
Jeffren: He is a manager who was also at Barcelona and he has ideas that they imparted and taught me there. That makes me feel quite comfortable on the pitch and I enjoy being with a coach like that. 

"I feel like an excited kid waiting to be able to make my debut with Venezuela"

LFP.es: What has Rubí got out of Jeffren Suárez?
Jeffren: The confidence I had lost in the time I was away. I have to thank this coach because thanks to him I am able to enjoy football again, something I wasn't able to do before. What Rubí has done is help me find myself as a player little by little and to be happy enough to be able to enjoy things.

LFP.es: Now new doors are opening to you: the Venezuelan national team.
Jeffren: The papers are being arranged at the moment and I really hope to be able to contribute to Venezuela some day. I feel like an excited kid waiting for that.

LFP.es: What has been your favourite moment in 2014?
Jeffren: It was a year in which I was able to feel good about football again, because I had a very hard time before. In 2014 I have to thank Valladolid for letting me be here, for making me feel at home and so comfortable.

LFP.es: What are you expecting from 2015?
Jeffren: The main goal is for the team to go up to the Liga BBVA because it deserves it.

LFP.es: What would you say to the fans who are dreaming of that?
Jeffren: To support us as they always do and I'd like to thank them because without them this team would not be the same. They should help us during good times and bad, because together we're going to achieve our goal of promotion to the Liga BBVA.