LFP.es at the Mareo, Sporting’s academy (III)

Abelardo Fernández (Gijon, Asturias, 19/04/1970) is the architect of R. Sporting’s success. After a brilliant career as a footballer, he is now living his dream of managing his favourite club, where he took his first steps as a player and as the coach of the Rojiblancos reserves. "Humility, hard work and intensity" and confidence in their youth system are the cornerstones of his Sporting, who are still unbeaten after eight matches in the Liga Adelante. Under his watch, fans in Gijon are dreaming once more.

LFP.es: What is the basis of this team’s success?
Abelardo: Hard work. It was a tough summer economically; we lost two important players and our star strikers; Dejan Lekić and Stefan Šćepović, and we committed to our youth system. To not have lost and to have 16 points at this stage is a great joy for everyone. Few of us expected it, especially me. We have to make the most of this moment, enjoy it and continue working day by day with the same intensity and enthusiasm. 

"To not have lost and to have 16 points at this stage is a great joy for everyone; few of us expected it"

LFP.es: Are you thinking about promotion? Because of its quality and history, Sporting will always be one of the favourites. 

Abelardo: It is a team that is on the up, a future team that we have to let find itself. They are young players, who are very enthusiastic, but they have little experience in the division. We also have a limited number of players in certain positions, such as up front, left-back and centre-back. We have to be lucky in a lot of ways, most of all with injuries. It’s not 'match by match' now, it’s 'minute by minute', 'hour by hour'.

LFP.es: What is the philosophy of your Sporting?
Abelardo: Humility, hard work, intensity and comradery. This team has won over the fans because it is a team that has all those virtues and that give their all. The attitude and intensity are non-negotiable. You may or may not play well, you can miss passes, make passes, be clinical in front of goal… but that is a must.

"The kids have nothing to thank me for. If they didn’t earn it, I wouldn’t play them. I don’t look at their age at any point, just their performances"

LFP.es: During your career as a player you played under coaches such as Cruyff, Van Gaal and Robson. What influence have they had on your current career as a manager?
Abelardo: I have been lucky enough to work with some very good managers. I couldn’t say a bad thing about any of them, and I have had a lot. You try to copy a little of each of them and transmit what you learned as a professional to your players, but sometimes it doesn’t quite work (laughs). There is no doubt that I have a very receptive team who work very hard and it is a joy to manage these kids.

LFP.es: You’ve said that the young players have nothing to thank you for, that you put them out because you know they will respond. So far, the results back up your theory.
Abelardo: I’ll say it again, they have nothing to thank me for. If they didn’t earn it, I wouldn’t play them. I am not going to shoot myself in the foot (laughs). I know that they have the quality and I don’t look at their age at any point, just their performances. I had them in the reserves and I also know how they behave off the pitch. That is important, because they have to look after themselves and live a healthy life in every respect. We have a good bunch of players coming through and we have to make the most of it.

"The fans are what keeps Sporting alive. We have the best fans in Spain"

LFP.es: What does it mean to you, a man who grew up here, to coach Sporting?
Abelardo: It means everything. It is a dream for me. As a fan I experienced the era of Quini, Ferrero, Joaquín, etc. Then, during my time as a player, I played in European competition. Now being able to train this team is the ultimate. My family are Sporting fans, I am a Sporting fan. We’re from Gijon and we are thoroughly enjoying this time. This is my home, the facilities are the envy of Spain and I really am very happy.

LFP.es: What do you think of if I say 'Mareona' to you?
Abelardo: The fans are what keeps Sporting alive. We have the best fans in Spain, and I mean that. We can go anywhere in Spain, or in the world, and we see a Sporting flag or scarf. That is incredible. The 'Mareona' is what this club means and why we are all here.

LFP.es: What message would you like to send to those fans that you call the best in Spain?
Abelardo: That we are going to give our all. We’ll try to make them proud of this Sporting and to keep up this level of hard work and intensity in the 34 remaining matches. They should be in no doubt that we will give everything for them.