Víctor Muñoz: "We'll see the real Zaragoza in the second half of the season"

Víctor Muñoz (b. Zaragoza, 1957) has Real Zaragoza in his blood. He was a player for the Aragonese side in the 1970s and now, in his second spell in the dugout, he is aiming to return to the Liga BBVA with the club to fulfil one of his dreams. LFP.es joined him in a crucial week in which he will look to end the team’s run of two consecutive defeats.

LFP.es: You're seventh after 12 matchdays. Not a bad start.
Víctor Muñoz: Two weeks ago I would have agreed, but now we’ve lost two and failed to achieve the consistency we wanted. But the Liga Adelante is very long. Now we want to finish the first half of the season as strongly as possible and, in the second, I’m sure you will see the real Zaragoza.

LFP.es: So are you going into the Betis game in good shape?
Víctor Muñoz: We have to end this little losing run of two games and, if it’s against Beits, one of the contenders for promotion to the Liga BBVA, all the better. They’re one of the teams that came down last season and they have a squad that’s fighting to climb back up. It’s essential that we play a good game to defeat them, though we’re aware it won’t be easy.

"We don’t play on the counter-attack; we like to take the initiative and defend well" 

LFP.es: What’s missing in the team?
Víctor Muñoz: Getting to know each other a bit better. The consistency that we’ve been lacking and really knowing when to attack and take risks. That happens through playing together, and we’ve assembled a completely new team.

LFP.es: How would you describe this team?
Víctor Muñoz: We’re not a team that plays on the counter-attack; we’re a team that wants to take the initiative, that wants to play, and when we don’t have the ball we like to defend well and be well organised. That’s the most important thing.

LFP.es: You had to build a squad virtually from scratch in two weeks and yet the team was competitive from the start. How did you manage to get the best out of young players like Ruiz de Galarreta, Borja Bastón and Willian José?
Víctor Muñoz: The fact that they know each other better and feel more comfortable in the team makes them perform. And not just these three players, we have to ensure all the players put in good performances. Every man has to try to improve his own game and then bring it to the team.

LFP.es: And Óscar Whalley’s call-up to the U-21s is recognition for the whole team
Víctor Muñoz: Whalley’s only just started! He’s a goalkeeper who is proving that he has the right attitude to play in the first team. The national side have called him up; we hope he does well, comes back happy and performs as he has until now. But not just him. There are young players who must show what they have and improve. Even the veterans. They all have to fight to improve their status within the squad.

"I’d like to manage Zaragoza in the Liga BBVA again"

LFP.es: What did you learn during your time abroad that you now apply to your daily work?
Víctor Muñoz: The biggest difficulty is adapting to the circumstances and the environment, the language and the customs of another country. What each team and the supporters want. But it’s clear that living abroad makes you realise what Spanish football really is. And now, though perhaps the difficulty is in Italy and the excitement and ups and downs are in England, the Liga BBVA is the most important.

LFP.es: You have had several spells at this club and won two titles. Are there any dreams you still want to fulfil with Zaragoza?
Víctor Muñoz: Zaragoza has to be in the Liga BBVA. I’ve managed the team in the top division and I’d like to do it again. The difficulties we’ve had in recent times have led to us being in the Liga Adelante, but if we do things well we can return to the Liga BBVA.