Interviews
MAR 14.10.2014
He was already making a name for himself at barely 12 years of age, standing shoulders above the rest at the 1999 Brunete Under 13 Football Tournament in a Real Madrid shirt. The life of Alberto Lora (Mostoles, Madrid, 25/03/1987) has changed a lot since then; that striker who scored a hat-trick in the final against FC Barcelona, is now one of the best defenders in Spanish football and one of the flag-bearers of R. Sporting. LFP.es spoke to him at the Mareo about the Asturian side's unbeaten start to the Liga Adelante.
LFP.es: What can we expect from Sporting this season? This start has the fans dreaming...
Lora: It is quite a hopeful start. Before the season got underway the season looked a bit black because of all the off-field problems that surrounded us. We know that it is going to be a very difficult year, but such a good start gives us energy.
"The more experienced of us keep the younger ones' feet on the ground; we make sure they see that this is not going to be easy"
LFP.es: Are you thinking about promotion?
Lora: No. We have really been aware from the preseason with Abelardo and we have spoken about it clearly. The more experienced of us keep the younger ones' feet on the ground; we make sure they see that this is not going to be easy. It is true that we've started very well, but we know that everything in football is very complicated and there could be weeks where things get tricky.
LFP.es: Youth is one of the pillars of this team. As one of the captains, what advice do you give to the youngest players?
Lora: Honestly not much, because they are very well prepared, with immense ability and quality. Sometimes they are the ones who teach the older players things.
LFP.es: What’s it like working with Abelardo?
Lora: A coach who has been a professional footballer has an advantage over the rest, because he feels what a player feels all the time. And, we’re talking about Abelardo, who is one of the greats of Spanish football. He asks, above all, that we work hard and are dedicated. In football you may or may not do things well, but what’s certain is that if you have a positive attitude, things will turn out well in the end.
LFP.es: Talking to you and not thinking of where it all began in the Brunete Tournament is impossible. What do you remember about the experience?
Lora: I was a kid who had just turned 12, but things like that stay with you. I’ll never forget it. Before I was able to play in that tournament I used to watch it on tele like all the kids and I always used to say: "Wow! It would be so cool to play in those tournaments, to meet kids, to be on tele…".
"Sporting has given me everything. It makes me proud to represent this club and to be able to wear this shirt"
LFP.es: Why do they call you 'la cobrita' [the mini cobra]?
Lora: It's nice and they still call me that. It came from Dani Asenjo, a Real Madrid Televisión commentator. One day I saw 'la cobra' Ilie, the ex-Valencia player, celebrate a goal with a kind of dance. I told my teammates that if I scored I would celebrate like that. I did it and he started saying "la cobra Lora, la cobra Lora" and it stuck. It suits me, I like it.
LFP.es: After that you continued training at Real Madrid. What did you learn there?
Lora: It's not just football training. You realise that as time goes by. You learn a lot of tactical and technical concepts, but you also learn as a person. It is good because then the kids can be professional and educated as well as good players.
LFP.es: What has Sporting given you on a professional and personal level?
Lora: I finished my training here. Sporting has given me everything. I will never have a bad word to say about the club, its fans or the city of Gijón. I will be eternally grateful. It makes me proud to represent this club and to be able to wear this shirt.
"Preciado was the coach who put his faith in me. I will be forever grateful for the affection and the opportunity he gave me"
LFP.es: Throughout your career you have played in different positions. How were those transformations for you?
Lora: I used to play as a midfielder and Manolo Preciado decided to put me on the wing one day. I think I convinced him and that is really my position, because that is where I have played the most matches. What I want is to play and to help the team with everything possible. At the end of the day the manager is in charge, but it is true that I am very comfortable playing on both the wing and in the midfield.
LFP.es: What impact did Manolo Preciado have on your career?
Lora: He was the coach who put his faith in me, by bringing me up to the first team. I will be forever grateful for the affection and the opportunity he gave me. Wherever he is, he will always be remembered with great affection.
LFP.es: Finally, what dream would you like to realise with Sporting?
Lora: To be able to play in European competition, but that is a very long way off and you have to keep your feet on the ground (laughs). It would be a very big step to win promotion to the Liga BBVA. I really want that because I have teammates who have done it and they speak wonders of it. They have tasted both staying up and promotion and they say that nothing compares to it, that they could tell people were a lot happier on the day of promotion than when they won safety.
© LALIGA - 2014