Junior Firpo's 'blows' (Santo Domingo, 1996)They have returned the elite of the 'football' to LEEDs. The 'Panther', which ends contract in June, is listed up after FGo to the best season of your career: Play side, but it has extreme numbers.
Ask. What does the ascent for the Leeds suppose after two years in 'hell'?
Answer. For the people of Leeds it is like a big title. You breathe happiness. They invite me to drink coffee, I went to play the paddle and I didn't pay the track … (laughs). People are very grateful.
The ascent, for the people of Leeds, is like a big title
Q. How do you explain that they have uploaded this season and not the previous one?
R. Last year I did not have the feeling that I had that we were going to rise. Many players had a descent clause and left, the signings were late, we started badly, I was injured until November … Losing the final of the playoffs was a hard stick, but we were not up to it. This season we have had more balance, but it is not over yet: we want to be champions.
Q. Do you feel that a weight has been removed?
R. Yes … and no. I feel that I have taken more the 'thorn' of the descent than of 'no rise'. The year we went down we had the necessary instruments to save ourselves. We were left over 45 minutes against the palace.
I feel that I have taken more the 'thorn' of the descent than of 'no rise
Q. It has been the best '3' of the category, long, with four goals and nine assists. Don't the second English get small?
R. I am very demanding with myself and may not value myself enough, but it is true that it has been an incredible season. In summer I set out to participate in 15 goals and I think I am in 14 having lost a third of matches. It is quite good.
Q. What has changed?
R. Nothing. I play as always. Leeds in Championship is even more dominator than Madrid or Barça in LaLiga. We arrive at the area with 6-7 players. The Mister knows the type of player I am and does not cut my wings. It gives me the freedom I need to move throughout the field, not only in band, and get my best version.
I set out to participate in 15 goals and I think I am in 14 having lost a third of matches. It has been an incredible season
Q. Yes, he has incorporated a mental coach, Laura Esquinas.
R. It has helped me a lot, above all, to channel the moments of stress. Before the results greatly influenced my mood and, being a father, it is something that I cannot afford. For me it is not a psychologist to use. We have a lot of 'feeling'. I will be eternally grateful.
Q. Why didn't Leeds leave after the descent? Offers had.
R. It was a cluster of things. I was injured, a new coach arrived that had been fine and thought that I had two years of contract and the last one would be in the Premier. He did not rise and there I said: 'I want to leave this club in Premier yes or yes.' I could have gone, yes, but in Leeds it is where I have found more home feeling.
I could have gone, yes, but in Leeds it is where I have found more feeling
Q. Now it ends contract and raffles it. Where will he play at 2025-26?
R. I don't know, I can't answer you, I was focused on getting up and I didn't want to distract me. There may have been approaches, it would be good recognition of my season.
Q. Is it ruled out to continue in the Leeds?
R. No, much less. I'm fine here and … Who doesn't feel like playing in the Premier? I feel that I have a thorn stuck. My two years in Premier were not good at all. I had many injuries, the Covid … I feel sorry because I think that with Bielsa, in the state that I am now, the story would have been different. I think I'm a premier player.
Q. His name is always associated with Betis. Would you like to return to Spain?
R. Back to Betis, especially. It is an option that I always have open. I have never hid it and I will not hide it. If in Leeds I found a home, Betis is a house. I am Bético, everyone knows it and I will not change it. I carry it in the blood.
I don't know where I'm going to play next season. Betis? It is an option that I always have open. It's my house
Q. Now that it is in its 'prime'. Why didn't he succeed in Barcelona?
R. For several things. I came, in quotes, to be the spoiled child of Betis, but Barça comes to you, Madrid and you have to say yes. Minimum you have to try. I had the bad luck that those two years were somewhat convulsive for Barça. He caught me a little young, too. If I had taken now we would be talking about something else.
The two years I was were somewhat convulsive for Barça. If I would have taken now we would be talking about something else
P. was sub 21 international with Spain. Why did he finally opted for the Dominican Republic?
R. I entered several prelists of the absolute and did not call me, so I opted to make a decision and I am proud. In the Dominican Republic they make me feel as I had never felt. I have the country's weight on top of mine.
In the Dominican Republic they make me feel as I had never felt. I have the country's weight on top of mine
Marcelo Neveleff came to see me 3 or 4 times in a year. The country was trying to professionalize and we are achieving very beautiful things: we will participate in Copa Gold for the first time, we have promoted to the league 'A' de la Nations … In addition, local boys have a good level. The Dominican footballer is physically incredible and has that impudence of the Brazilian player, he only needs some discipline. In the next 20 years there will be many Dominicans playing in Europe.
