Fabian Ruiz, 28-year-old midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain and Spain, spoke to Marca at the start of the international break. He talked about his fine statistics, what the coaches ask of him – coach Luis Enrique in particular – PSG’s form, Ousmane Dembélé (27-year-old striker) and work off the pitch.
Ruiz “I try to combine great deployment on the pitch with possession play.”
35 matches unbeaten with Spain, record 48 matches unbeaten in Ligue 1 – the invincible Fabian Ruiz?
It’s true that the figures are there and they’re good, not only for me but also for the team. Let’s keep up the momentum.
If you had to define yourself as a footballer?
I’m comfortable running, with the ball and in a positional game. I like to get into the box, but I also like to get down to receive and bring the ball out from the back. I try to combine great deployment on the pitch with possession.
Ruiz “I always pay attention to the defense.”
What do your coaches ask of you when you’re finishing?
The same thing for the national team as for my team: to be a finisher, to finish. I work to improve my finishing, to score more goals, to finish the game when I’m close to the box.
But I always pay attention to defense, a facet in which I feel comfortable. Just as I get into the opponent’s zone to attack, I have to do the same in our zone to help defend.
Ruiz “he had decided not to take me and I respected that.”
How did you feel when you heard that Luis Enrique had confessed his regret at not taking you to the World Cup?
I was grateful, because he recognizes the work I do. At the time, he decided not to take me and I respected that. Spain has a lot of players at this level and the coach has to make decisions. He’s a great coach, as I’ve always said.
And when did you learn that you would be his coach at PSG?
Soccer is like that. He came to Paris and, over those two years, I played a lot.
Ruiz “He’s our leader, the one who made the team grow.”
Really, if only out of curiosity, you didn’t ask him why?
No, because these are decisions that have to be made by the coach. Of course, I would have liked to have been there, but we never talked about it. I only tried to improve, to do what he asked me to do. And I think his words stem from that effort.
Have you seen Luis Enrique’s documentary?
Yes, of course I have. It reflects what he is, a transparent person, because he shows himself every day. He’s our leader, the one who has made the team grow. We’re happy to have him.
Were you surprised by anything you saw?
Not at all. We have him almost 24 hours a day, so we weren’t surprised.
Ruiz “It’s true that it was a radical change.”
Do you set an alarm to flex?
Not us, just him.
Does PSG transmit a power that scares Europe?
Since last year, we’ve been playing great matches. This season, we’ve already totally adapted to what the coach wanted. It’s true that it was a radical change, but we’re in a good dynamic, with a great disposition, alive in all competitions, and our aim is to continue like that so that the year is a success.
How do you explain the fact that PSG lost the first leg against Liverpool and won the second?
Soccer. Nobody guarantees that if you play better, you’ll win a match. In the end, you have to put the ball in the net, and Liverpool were better in the first leg.
We played a great game and created some clear-cut chances, but we didn’t take advantage of them. The second leg was more balanced and soccer did us justice by giving us the lead, which I think we deserved.
Ruiz “He’s reaping the rewards of his efforts.”
You’re good friends with Dembélé, what does he eat to do what he does?
[Laughs]. Now, he doesn’t eat much because of Ramadan, but the truth is that he’s in an incredible dynamic, and not just with the ball.
Without the ball, he also shows that he’s a very intelligent footballer, who presses well and gives his all on the pitch. He’s reaping the rewards of his efforts. In the end, so much work… the goals came to him, but he brings us so much more.
Ruiz “That’s why we mustn’t slacken off.”
Can you say that you play for the two teams that play the best soccer, PSG and the Spanish national team?
Yes, I’m not going to lie. PSG is one of the best teams in Europe. Last year, we reached the semi-finals and now we’re in the quarter-finals.
With the national team, we’ve just won the European championship, which means we’re the best in Europe. That’s why we’ve got to keep up the momentum and show that we’re among the best.
Ruiz “We have a great squad, and when someone comes in, the team doesn’t suffer.”
Luis Enrique has said that PSG are better defensively and offensively without Mbappé.
That’s his opinion. We’re a team and all the strikers bring a lot to the table, both offensively and defensively. That’s what the coach wants us to do: attack while defending as a unit.
It’s unthinkable not to do it, because if you don’t do it, you’re not playing. We have a great squad, and when someone comes on, the team doesn’t suffer.
How far can Fabián go?
I don’t usually think too much about the future, preferring to concentrate on the present and getting better every day. I know I can always give more of myself.
I always try to bring something extra to the team and improve little by little. I don’t set myself any limits, I just try to give my best every match.
Ruiz “It’s essential to recover well and quickly to avoid injury.”
You mentioned recovery, which seems to be one of your obsessions as an athlete, isn’t it?
It’s very important to me. I do everything I can to recover as quickly as possible: I have staff at home, a gym, a sauna, cold water, a hyperbaric chamber, a personal physio… Everything you need. It’s essential to recover well and quickly to avoid injury.
Is even a nap part of a footballer’s job?
Yes, I’ve said that many times. Rest and nutrition, playing every three days, are just as important as training. We’re in good physical shape, but every match is very tough, so recovery and treatment are essential. Everything goes hand in hand.
Ruiz “The mind is perhaps more important than anything else.”
Do you also work on the mental side?
Yes, definitely. The mind is perhaps more important than anything else. It’s what goes with the physical, and if you want to perform at 100%, you need to have a clear head and be prepared.
I give it the same importance as physical work. I try to stay stable and do everything I can to give my best.
