Iker Muniain and the Cola-Cao Kids
Well. That was a disappointing match, so the less said, the better. Instead, I'm here to cheer you all up with everyone's favorite ray of rojiblanco sunshine, Iker Muniain! And his equally loveable teammates, naturally. El Desmarque Bizkaia ran this great piece a few days ago, after the victory over Mirandés.
It’s clear that the current Athletic squad stand out because of their attractive football, their intense pace, but also because of the insulting youthfulness of some of the players. Along with his friend Pochettino’s Espanyol, Bielsa’s lineup every week is the youngest in the first division, at least in terms of age. And they have the youthful attitudes to prove it: the use of Twitter, a passion for videogames, spontaneity, a love of laughter, and the desire to conquer the world. This is the case for two of the rojiblanco stars, Ander Herrera and Iker Muniain, who make up an important “triumvirate” alongside Javi Martínez, and they are the life of the lockerroom. Seeing the image that accompanies this article, one is reminded of the words of the late Andrés Montes: “Why do jokers always smile?”
“Bart” Muniain appeared on Punto Pelota after the much-celebrated victory against Mirandés (6-2), where Ander revealed some of the funniest details of the Athletic lockerroom, like the tradition of gathering together in someone’s room to drink Cola-Cao. It’s obvious that it gives them strength to win.
Josep Pedrerol: It’s 1:34 in the morning, 12:34 in Canarias, and Irene Junquera is there with Muniain, who probably wants to go to bed, look how late it is! Irene?
Irene Junquera: It was supposed to be a surprise!
JP: Sorry!
IJ: We always speak in the wrong order, Josep. (to Iker) Well, you probably do want to go to bed, thanks for - we’re in the Hotel Hesperia, they had to walk all the way here to be with us -
Iker Muniain: I almost fell asleep waiting for you, but that’s okay.
JP: What a character!
IJ: First thing, Iker, I want to say congratulations. Everyone is always talking about you, what is it about you, what are you like that, why does everyone talk about you constantly? Apart from the fact that you’re good, which we can see.
IM: Well, I don’t know what it is about me, I only play football, which is what I know how to do, and it makes me happy that people are talking about me.
IJ: You scored a goal today, so I imagine you’re really happy, what more can you ask for?
IM: Yes, the truth is that I’m very happy to have helped my team, I think the team did a great job, and we practically cemented the match in the first half-hour, and then we celebrated the result, and we’re very pleased - players and fans alike - that we achieved this step towards the final.
IJ: What did you think of Mirandés and their fans? There were moments, in San Mamés, when you could only hear the Mirandés fans!
IM: Yeah, the truth is that they have great fans, don’t they? They’ve supported their team the whole way through, and they’re a great team, I think they reached the semifinal on their own merits, and from this point, we wish them the best of luck.
IJ: What do you guys do on those Cola-Cao nights, the nights before matches? Apart from drinking Cola-Cao, which we already know -
JP: The big news of the night!
IJ: Just a moment! This time it was in Ander’s room, because straight off the bat they said your room was off-limits, because people complained. What were you guys doing?
IM: Nothing, we -
IJ: Eating donuts?
IM: No, the truth is that we got tired of them always doing it in our room because they leave a mess, they don’t pick up after themselves, and it smells pretty bad, you know? So we changed the room. We usually drink Cola-Cao and eat Nutella on toast... you know, typical things before a match!
IJ: One thing that I wanted to ask you, what did you do at the end of the first half? You gave your shirt away, who did you give it to?
IM: Yeah, at the end of the first half, I exchanged shirts with one of their players -
IJ: And the second half?
IM: The second half -
IJ: Another question? Another? He’s one of the ones who wants to be a journalist, they’re all a bunch of jokers!
IM: The second one, I threw [my shirt] to the fans.
IJ: Now, I want to ask you - maybe you’ll like this question better - we saw, when you scored your goal, that you made a gesture like this - [puts hand on head]. Clear that up for us, what does it mean?
IM: I did like this - Nothing, the day before, I went to the hairdresser so that he could make me a little bit handsome, and he asked me to dedicate a goal to him, so it was directed at him, my friend Iñaki from Arco [Hair Salon]. I’m just taking advantage of this to do a bit of publicity, so he’ll cut my hair for free!
IJ: Well, Iker, you know that we here at Punto Pelota will pay even more attention to you than we already do, if you’ll dedicate a goal to us.
IM: Okay. I’ll dedicate my next goal to you guys. But you have to show me how you want me to dedicate it.
IJ: I don’t know, I can’t think of anything. What can I do? I don’t know, you’re the expert! Okay, you hold the microphone. What about like this, something like this?
IM: No, better like this. A punto [dot].
IJ: But you can barely see it, don’t you think?
JP: Punto! For Punto Pelota! That’s good! A punto, like that!
IJ: Okay, like that. This one, right?
IM: Yup.
IJ: Really? Are you going to remember?
IM: Yes. If I remember.
IJ: What a superstar.
[crosstalk]
JP: Just a minute, Álvaro Benito was just about to explode -
IM: Álvaro Benito, wow, can you believe how he’s let his hair get? I saw him the other day, what a hairdo, dude! It’s lucky he has a good voice, because if not...
IJ: He’s a big fan, Iker’s a fan of Álvaro as a singer...
IM: Yeah, it’s true, I follow him, and I like his songs a lot.
Álvaro Benito: Yes, we were playing in Santutxu this summer and he came up on stage with us, and he gave me one of his Athletic shirts, signed, and we’re friends -
IM: People really came to see me, more than anything!
JP: In your time [playing football - Álvaro Benito played in Real Madrid’s youth system], did you guys do the same, gather in your rooms to eat Nutella and things like that?
AB: Earlier, I wanted to make a comment about that, when Ander was talking about that, that you miss that - it’s something you experience more in the youth teams, and then what a club like Athletic has, with so many people that are like family, it’s more like a youth team, except that it’s a first team! So there’s that feeling of unity that’s lacking in other professional teams. And the truth is that you feel a bit jealous - because thinking back to my time with Real Madrid B [now Castilla], that group unity, always going to eat dinner together, to spend time together -
JP: You lose that, it gets lost -
[woman panelist]: I want to know if el míster knows about this?
JP: That’s true, it’s a good question.
IM: No! How would he know? Well - I guess he probably knows now!
[wp]: Do you all take part?
IM: As long as we keep winning, I don’t think he’ll say anything. But as soon as we lose - oh my god!
[wp]: One other thing, they did this at the World Cup, didn’t they? It was a story, the players - yes, they did! - in South Africa, they got together - in the Eurocopa before, too, in Austria - to eat croissants and chocolate at night... So maybe -
Rober: Iker, it’s Rober - shall we discuss that thing from Denmark, about the blonde girls?
IM: Nooo! That was all a misunderstanding! Maybe we shouldn’t talk about that matter, because then my girl - I’ll have problems.
R: I’ll shut up, then!
IJ: Very good, Rober, you just stuck your foot in -
[someone]: You just split up a couple!
R: Okay, then, I’ll just ask about Kun. How’s Kun?
IJ: That’s his dog!
IM: Kun is living the life! Just recently we got him a leash and he’s running, and we make him do exercises!
IJ: Let me ask one thing, because this normally happens when a team succeeds, above all when players are successful, that people start to talk about them going to other clubs. And you’ve been on everybody’s list - for the summer transfer window.
IM: I knew that one was coming!
IJ: Of course! I want to know if you’ve got any little offers -
IM: No, the truth is -
IJ: You’re not going to tell me the truth!
IM: Yes, I’m telling you the truth! At the moment, there’s nothing. Myself, as well as my teammates, are devoted to this club, and we’re demonstrating that right now. There’s a lot of negotiations going on, like Fernando Llorente’s, which is about to come together, and that’s where you see the dedication of the players, you know?
IJ: Well, I don’t know if you guys want to say anything more...
JP: No, just thank you, that he’s a phenomenon, and don’t change! Irene - are you staying at this hotel, at the Hesperia?
IJ: Well, I’m going to go for a little walk, and then -
JP: Oh, a little stroll, I didn’t have the slightest doubt - is there a good place in Bilbao to get a drink at this hour? Iker?
[male panelist]: He looks like he doesn’t go out much! [literally “He has a face like he doesn’t go out much!”]
IJ: He doesn’t go out, he doesn’t know!
IM: I’m going home, I need to rest for Saturday.
As always, Iker is hilarious and charming, and he has everyone wrapped neatly around his littlest finger! And Álvaro Benito says such lovely things about Athletic, too.
It’s clear that the current Athletic squad stand out because of their attractive football, their intense pace, but also because of the insulting youthfulness of some of the players. Along with his friend Pochettino’s Espanyol, Bielsa’s lineup every week is the youngest in the first division, at least in terms of age. And they have the youthful attitudes to prove it: the use of Twitter, a passion for videogames, spontaneity, a love of laughter, and the desire to conquer the world. This is the case for two of the rojiblanco stars, Ander Herrera and Iker Muniain, who make up an important “triumvirate” alongside Javi Martínez, and they are the life of the lockerroom. Seeing the image that accompanies this article, one is reminded of the words of the late Andrés Montes: “Why do jokers always smile?”
“Bart” Muniain appeared on Punto Pelota after the much-celebrated victory against Mirandés (6-2), where Ander revealed some of the funniest details of the Athletic lockerroom, like the tradition of gathering together in someone’s room to drink Cola-Cao. It’s obvious that it gives them strength to win.
Josep Pedrerol: It’s 1:34 in the morning, 12:34 in Canarias, and Irene Junquera is there with Muniain, who probably wants to go to bed, look how late it is! Irene?
Irene Junquera: It was supposed to be a surprise!
JP: Sorry!
IJ: We always speak in the wrong order, Josep. (to Iker) Well, you probably do want to go to bed, thanks for - we’re in the Hotel Hesperia, they had to walk all the way here to be with us -
Iker Muniain: I almost fell asleep waiting for you, but that’s okay.
JP: What a character!
IJ: First thing, Iker, I want to say congratulations. Everyone is always talking about you, what is it about you, what are you like that, why does everyone talk about you constantly? Apart from the fact that you’re good, which we can see.
IM: Well, I don’t know what it is about me, I only play football, which is what I know how to do, and it makes me happy that people are talking about me.
IJ: You scored a goal today, so I imagine you’re really happy, what more can you ask for?
IM: Yes, the truth is that I’m very happy to have helped my team, I think the team did a great job, and we practically cemented the match in the first half-hour, and then we celebrated the result, and we’re very pleased - players and fans alike - that we achieved this step towards the final.
IJ: What did you think of Mirandés and their fans? There were moments, in San Mamés, when you could only hear the Mirandés fans!
IM: Yeah, the truth is that they have great fans, don’t they? They’ve supported their team the whole way through, and they’re a great team, I think they reached the semifinal on their own merits, and from this point, we wish them the best of luck.
IJ: What do you guys do on those Cola-Cao nights, the nights before matches? Apart from drinking Cola-Cao, which we already know -
JP: The big news of the night!
IJ: Just a moment! This time it was in Ander’s room, because straight off the bat they said your room was off-limits, because people complained. What were you guys doing?
IM: Nothing, we -
IJ: Eating donuts?
IM: No, the truth is that we got tired of them always doing it in our room because they leave a mess, they don’t pick up after themselves, and it smells pretty bad, you know? So we changed the room. We usually drink Cola-Cao and eat Nutella on toast... you know, typical things before a match!
IJ: One thing that I wanted to ask you, what did you do at the end of the first half? You gave your shirt away, who did you give it to?
IM: Yeah, at the end of the first half, I exchanged shirts with one of their players -
IJ: And the second half?
IM: The second half -
IJ: Another question? Another? He’s one of the ones who wants to be a journalist, they’re all a bunch of jokers!
IM: The second one, I threw [my shirt] to the fans.
IJ: Now, I want to ask you - maybe you’ll like this question better - we saw, when you scored your goal, that you made a gesture like this - [puts hand on head]. Clear that up for us, what does it mean?
IM: I did like this - Nothing, the day before, I went to the hairdresser so that he could make me a little bit handsome, and he asked me to dedicate a goal to him, so it was directed at him, my friend Iñaki from Arco [Hair Salon]. I’m just taking advantage of this to do a bit of publicity, so he’ll cut my hair for free!
IJ: Well, Iker, you know that we here at Punto Pelota will pay even more attention to you than we already do, if you’ll dedicate a goal to us.
IM: Okay. I’ll dedicate my next goal to you guys. But you have to show me how you want me to dedicate it.
IJ: I don’t know, I can’t think of anything. What can I do? I don’t know, you’re the expert! Okay, you hold the microphone. What about like this, something like this?
IM: No, better like this. A punto [dot].
IJ: But you can barely see it, don’t you think?
JP: Punto! For Punto Pelota! That’s good! A punto, like that!
IJ: Okay, like that. This one, right?
IM: Yup.
IJ: Really? Are you going to remember?
IM: Yes. If I remember.
IJ: What a superstar.
[crosstalk]
JP: Just a minute, Álvaro Benito was just about to explode -
IM: Álvaro Benito, wow, can you believe how he’s let his hair get? I saw him the other day, what a hairdo, dude! It’s lucky he has a good voice, because if not...
IJ: He’s a big fan, Iker’s a fan of Álvaro as a singer...
IM: Yeah, it’s true, I follow him, and I like his songs a lot.
Álvaro Benito: Yes, we were playing in Santutxu this summer and he came up on stage with us, and he gave me one of his Athletic shirts, signed, and we’re friends -
IM: People really came to see me, more than anything!
JP: In your time [playing football - Álvaro Benito played in Real Madrid’s youth system], did you guys do the same, gather in your rooms to eat Nutella and things like that?
AB: Earlier, I wanted to make a comment about that, when Ander was talking about that, that you miss that - it’s something you experience more in the youth teams, and then what a club like Athletic has, with so many people that are like family, it’s more like a youth team, except that it’s a first team! So there’s that feeling of unity that’s lacking in other professional teams. And the truth is that you feel a bit jealous - because thinking back to my time with Real Madrid B [now Castilla], that group unity, always going to eat dinner together, to spend time together -
JP: You lose that, it gets lost -
[woman panelist]: I want to know if el míster knows about this?
JP: That’s true, it’s a good question.
IM: No! How would he know? Well - I guess he probably knows now!
[wp]: Do you all take part?
IM: As long as we keep winning, I don’t think he’ll say anything. But as soon as we lose - oh my god!
[wp]: One other thing, they did this at the World Cup, didn’t they? It was a story, the players - yes, they did! - in South Africa, they got together - in the Eurocopa before, too, in Austria - to eat croissants and chocolate at night... So maybe -
Rober: Iker, it’s Rober - shall we discuss that thing from Denmark, about the blonde girls?
IM: Nooo! That was all a misunderstanding! Maybe we shouldn’t talk about that matter, because then my girl - I’ll have problems.
R: I’ll shut up, then!
IJ: Very good, Rober, you just stuck your foot in -
[someone]: You just split up a couple!
R: Okay, then, I’ll just ask about Kun. How’s Kun?
IJ: That’s his dog!
IM: Kun is living the life! Just recently we got him a leash and he’s running, and we make him do exercises!
IJ: Let me ask one thing, because this normally happens when a team succeeds, above all when players are successful, that people start to talk about them going to other clubs. And you’ve been on everybody’s list - for the summer transfer window.
IM: I knew that one was coming!
IJ: Of course! I want to know if you’ve got any little offers -
IM: No, the truth is -
IJ: You’re not going to tell me the truth!
IM: Yes, I’m telling you the truth! At the moment, there’s nothing. Myself, as well as my teammates, are devoted to this club, and we’re demonstrating that right now. There’s a lot of negotiations going on, like Fernando Llorente’s, which is about to come together, and that’s where you see the dedication of the players, you know?
IJ: Well, I don’t know if you guys want to say anything more...
JP: No, just thank you, that he’s a phenomenon, and don’t change! Irene - are you staying at this hotel, at the Hesperia?
IJ: Well, I’m going to go for a little walk, and then -
JP: Oh, a little stroll, I didn’t have the slightest doubt - is there a good place in Bilbao to get a drink at this hour? Iker?
[male panelist]: He looks like he doesn’t go out much! [literally “He has a face like he doesn’t go out much!”]
IJ: He doesn’t go out, he doesn’t know!
IM: I’m going home, I need to rest for Saturday.
As always, Iker is hilarious and charming, and he has everyone wrapped neatly around his littlest finger! And Álvaro Benito says such lovely things about Athletic, too.