Jonathan Viera: "It'll be inevitable not to feel all nostalgic"

UD Almería attacking midfielder Jonathan Viera is the limelight this week since next Sunday the Rojiblancos will be visiting UD Las Palmas, the footballer's former team, so for him it will certainly be a very special meeting. It is for this reason that, this Thursday morning, he opened up to the Club's official media about the next match and also, about his current head coach Pepe Mel, another former Las Palmas manager. Both worked together in the Canarian side and the new Indálico player highlighted: 'We have a very good, very close relationship. We get on very well and I truly appreciate everything he's done for me.'

In addition, the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria native explained: 'He'll give us fresh air, the team are training very well and I see him with that happiness in training that he wants players to have with the ball.' The footballer also commented on the possibility of becoming a head coach in the future: 'I'm beginning to train as a future coach and I reckon it's the most complicated thing in football...conveying your message and having the players follow you and like your way of training… is the most difficult.'

If something characterises Jonathan Viera, apart from being a magnificent player, it is his way of encouraging people and touching the hearts of his team-mates. On that subject, the Rojiblanco magician stated: 'Motivating people is something innate that I've always had, over the years I've been improving it and I've been with team-mates who have taught me how to do it at certain times, also with coaches who I've noticed and all of that, if you're able to collect it, then very good things will happen.'

For the new UD Almería recruit it is going to be a very difficult encounter personally: 'It's going to be strange, honestly, I'd never have liked to play this game wearing another team shirt in that stadium against my people… but hey! it's football and you have to be as professional as possible and go all out for a win.' He also shared an anecdote that happened to him recently: 'The other day I told my wife that I hope I don't pass it on to anyone with the yellow shirt. It'll be inevitable not to feel nostalgic there.' 

'I'll never be able to celebrate a goal against UD Las Palmas. It's my team, my people, my island and I'll never be able to do it,' he made it clear. 

To conclude his interview with the Club's official media, the Canary Islands footballer was sincere. 'I'm enjoying a lot here in Almería, I'm getting better and better. I've integrated spectacularly into the dressing room, the people, the club, the fans are great... They've made it very easy for me and I'm sure that soon we'll see a better version of myself. I really like everything that I've seen since I arrived, my wife loves the city and my son is happy at school. The fact that my family is happy is my priority. There are things that are more important than football,' Jonathan Viera concluded.