Rayo Vallecano manager caught up with James Rodriguez's demands – 'I have 25 more players'
Rayo Vallecano manager Inigo Perez has a game against Leganes on Saturday but spent more of his press conference talking about James Rodriguez than the match. The Colombian made his debut against Osasuna, and was given 17 minutes against Atletico Madrid, but Perez has been the focus of online ire for not using the Colombian superstar.
The 33-year-old remains a star attraction in his home country, and to the large Colombian population in Madrid, but Perez has other priorities ahead of the Colombian, who has not played club football since mid-April, though it did. play in the Copa America, which ends in mid-July.
The first question Perez was asked was about James, who beat him.
“Every setting is ideal to see a Rayo player. It's the weekend, the stadium will be full. Some of what happened this week, I decided the team based on what I see during the week. Tomorrow, an hour before the game, you know who is playing and who is not.
Of the 11 questions he was asked, four were directly about James, while two more about the changes he could make to the line-up against Leganes.
“My obligation is to everyone who is in my team. He was the best player in the Copa America. In his case, he comes from a great period of inactivity. I like it, I like it. Any other speech contrary to this is wrong, it was said by the broadcaster who said it. I select the ones I think are the best.”
Perez was also questioned about what it was like to talk to the former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
“I am a coach who tries to keep in touch with the players. Same mentality, attitude and feelings of improvement when you fail. They have a person they can talk to about everything. We had two Colombians, I have never seen a player like Falcao, his professionalism, as a coach and as a player. With James, people who have played at the elite, who are still elite, but they are very simple people.”
On Thursday, Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique told the press that he would give up half his salary to avoid having to speak to the media, and Perez was asked if he would do the same to avoid the questions about James.
“I'll tell you honestly, I don't suffer from it. I'm empathetic for what James generates. I'm lucky not to live in a virtual world. It gets to you in the exact way that you don't want to get to you. There will always be criticism. Don't do not suffer, I understand the questions, if there is a bad time, sorry, but I have 25 more players.
