Imanol wanted a headline for his farewell, but he left another one that was only understood... in Bilbao

"Hopefully tomorrow's headlines will be that Imanol left because he stopped winning," the Real Sociedad manager said last Sunday, in what was his final press conference at Anoeta, following a last-minute victory against Girona. Indeed, the downward spiral the San Sebastián team has suffered, with just three wins in its last 16 matches , is what led the Orio-born player to reject the renewal offer that had been on the table for months.

"It wasn't a hothead at all. I was clear that it was a long time coming and I wanted to stay here. I've always said that the day I didn't win they'd fire me. That hasn't been the case, I left . I've been very honest with the club and the president has respected me," Imanol explained during a tremendously emotional appearance in which he didn't tire of showing his gratitude, even to the journalists , whom he said goodbye to with a hug, something that is not very common in today's football.

“Beyond all the triumphs, all the qualifications to play in Europe or the Copa del Rey , there is no greater triumph than the affection I have received from everyone" , commented the current Real manager, to emphasize again and again that "without the daily work of my staff, the players, the club, the board, the journalists... You have all helped me a lot and, without everyone contributing, we would not have achieved what we have achieved in these last six years."

Imanol wanted the headline of his final press conference at Anoeta to be that "he's leaving because he's stopped winning." However, he made a comment that, while perhaps catching those present off guard, has generated both surprise and anger among many Real Sociedad fans, as well as surprise among those who aren't, but don't understand the reason for his decision. "I hope that one day the policy changes and we decide to play, like Athletic Club does , only with youth players . I hope so," said the Oriol native.

A question about the victory "with the seal of Zubieta"

To put this comment into context, it's worth explaining that it was part of a lengthy response to a question about the 3-2 draw against Girona having come "with the stamp of Zubieta." Not surprisingly, two of Real's three goals were scored by Pablo Marín and Arkatiz Mariezkurrena , two youth players who made their first-team debuts under Imanol, while the other was scored by Mikel Oyarzabal , captain and hallmark of the Gipuzkoan club.

The truth is that the coach contradicted himself in that same answer by admitting, "I would have liked some of the youth players to have played more, but you have to be aware of how complicated it is due to the high level of demand . Sometimes, I've sacrificed not giving them more minutes because there was a lot at stake. Obviously, these youth players need time, to grow, to have experiences, to make mistakes... And those mistakes can mean losing games." This is probably why the only undisputed starter to come out of Zubieta in the last five years is Martín Zubimendi , who precisely has his bags packed to go to Arsenal...

And Imanol continued: "In my own way, I've tried to give opportunities to youth players, but without losing the essence of competing and keeping Real at the top . Could it have been done better? Yes, but also worse," he confessed. He then went on to say what he said. "Me, being from the youth team... I hope that one day the policy changes and we decide to play, like Athletic does, only with youth players . We would all be equally happy and proud, regardless of the results."

The Oriotarra native acknowledged that "if Real Sociedad does anything well, it's working with the youth academy, but this wouldn't have worked without me either . Real Sociedad is too big to think it wouldn't work without Imanol. As a fan, I'll sleep soundly because there's a future." Of course, it's one thing to say this now that he's leaving, and another to think about what his replacement might think. The Irun native, a Real Madrid youth player like him and Sanse coach , Sergio Francisco , clearly sets the bar very high for him, but who will count on the youth team. Starting with Gorrotxategi and Urko González de Zárate , loaned this season to Mirandés and Espanyol , whom Imanol didn't want.

"It's not like he's applying to go to Bilbao."

"I understand that this comment about Real's philosophy won't sit well with Kubo and company . Anything exclusive sounds racist to me. What was the need for him to say that?" reflects one member. "For me, Imanol loses credibility, as that statement contradicts his performance over the last six years," responds another, who goes further and fires a bullet: "It's not as if he were applying to go to Bilbao."

In this sense, who knows if it could have something to do with the fact that his representative, from the You First agency, once praised "Athletic's philosophy," even though he was also a Zubieta youth player. Incidentally, the agency has also been soliciting players under the guise of being the coach's agent , which doesn't seem very ethical and, understandably, has upset his colleagues.

Returning to Imanol's comment, as another Real Sociedad member says, "it's a strange statement, especially because Athletic's philosophy isn't to only play with youth players." Indeed, as the Bilbao club states on its website , "our sporting philosophy is governed by the principle that players who have come through our own youth academy and those trained in clubs in the Basque Country, which includes Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, Araba, Navarre, Lapurdi, Zuberoa and Navarre Behera, as well as players born in any of them, can play in our ranks."

"I think he's slipped up, because when we say youth team player, we all mean a club, and these days it's impossible to compete with only youth team players. No one does it, I wish it were possible," says a member who wants to be understanding with Imanol, but at the same time remains realistic. In this case, in both senses of the word. "He says we'll be very proud, regardless of the results, but I personally prefer to have results," says another without hesitation.

Imanol knows better than anyone the importance of signings

"I don't know about before, but now Real Sociedad is highly respected in Europe. We've managed to get people in Europe really talking about Real Sociedad," said the still blue and white coach. Although for this to have happened, he knows better than anyone that he has needed to count on footballers who have come from outside Zubieta, from Odegaard to the aforementioned Kubo, passing through David Silva or Isak . Although, as Xabi Prieto said, "once they put on the Real Sociedad shirt it's as if they were from here."

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"I've loved Real Sociedad so much that I've forgotten about myself and my family," Imanol responded when asked about his future. "I'm not tired. If something comes up that I want, I'll continue, but I haven't left yet, and I already miss Real Sociedad. My head is telling me to get far away from here so I can forget about it, which I know I won't be able to do." No one can doubt his feelings toward the San Sebastian club, although his statements about the change in policy left him without the starting spot he so desperately wanted, upset his fans, and were only understood... in Bilbao.