The president of Unicaja, Antonio Jesús López Nieto, He has never hidden that the challenge he accepted when he took office at the club was aimed at returning the Malaga team to the elite. However, he admits that I did not envision the option of lifting a top level title like the Copa del Rey in such a short term, only a year and a half after arriving at the box of Martín Carpena. Lopez Nieto attended to BE Málaga shortly before the squad got on the open-top bus to tour the streets of the city and acknowledged that “this success so soon and so big” was not expected. “The important thing is that we have redirected the philosophy, identity and everything that surrounds the club. We are not going to stop, we are going to continue making our way, ”he assured.
Have you been able to sleep?
Bit. We arrived late, I had almost 500 messages on my phone and since I wasn’t sleepy, I answered them after the magnificent reception that the team had at the airport. I thank the fans for their patience in waiting for us. I still have many to answer, but I will answer them. It’s quite a busy day, but a job one likes. I always like it, but today especially more.
Who did you think of after the final?
It was the game he feared the most. I went very calm to the games against Barça and Madrid. I knew we were going to fight it, to be there, and in the end we won. But in the final we were already on the edge of the mountain, of a historical milestone. It is very difficult to beat Madrid and Barça, with four times more budget than us. And we reached the final against a team of a caliber similar to ours. A very made team, which has played many finals. Everyone said that we had made history, but no, history remembers the winners in the end.
The message that has made you most excited?
There have been so many that I am not going to reveal any of them. I have received messages from many people, from all over Spain, people from sports, football, basketball… At the national level I have had a lot of support when things here have gotten a bit muddy. I have remembered a lot about my family. It’s been a tough year and a half. I’m used to accepting criticism, but relatives take it worse. This comforts you and encourages you to continue. Today it’s time to celebrate, but starting tomorrow the season continues and we have new challenges, new milestones to set and why not, some more titles.
And what message have you received from your family?
My wife always told me why I needed to get involved in this. I like her, I wanted her and I was convinced that we were going to get where we have. I did not expect this success so soon and so big, but the important thing is that we have redirected the philosophy, the identity and everything that surrounds the club. On top of that, we have been lucky enough to receive an honors degree and a ‘cum laude’ with a Copa del Rey earlier than our strategic plan indicated. We are not going to stop, we are going to continue making our way”.
The Super Cup and the Cup will be in Malaga next season.
We are going to play the 2023 Super Cup as Cup champions in their own right. In 2024 the Super Cup and the Cup will be held in Malaga. Two participations in the Super Cup guaranteed and the 2024 Cup also guaranteed. Other challenges ahead. It is good that things are coming to Malaga.
Will there be a premium for the template?
It will have to be studied. Everyone when things go well, well, ask. We’ll see. They will be happy.
Congratulations from Malaga.
“He has congratulated us in a magnificent, exemplary way, and I thank him publicly. We have been congratulated by the judicial administrator and the institution in general. The institution has sent a very nice letter and has invited us to the game, but with the events we couldn’t go. We will go on future dates because it is our sister club, our reference and I wish it all the best. Today we have a very complicated game and the only thing worth winning is, yes or yes”.
