Alvaro Rubio, shining knight in BFC armour

Bengaluru: Philosophy is a word that is used widely in football. It’s used to describe styles of play and tactical nuances. It’s used to embody a coach’s personality. It’s even used as an excuse to buy time for the managers.

However you spin it, the fact remains that philosophy for a club is the blue print of the foundation on which a dynasty is built. After three years of consistent success, Bengaluru FC are now in a transitional period. And when the new coach comes in with the pedigree of being from Barcelona, the word philosophy takes a whole other meaning.

Albert Roca has been hard at work trying to mould the team to play his style of football and like all the kings who had their knights, for the Spaniard, midfielder Alvaro Rubio wears the shining armour.

A Segunda Division title and a FIFA U-20 World Cup with Spain stand out in Rubio’s trophy cabinet while memories of playing against players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in those big games against Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively remain cherished memories and experiences from his long career.

With over 200 games at the La Liga, Spain’s top division, under his belt during his time with Albacete and Valladolid, the 37-year-old will be the go-to man for the head coach when the I-League champions square off against Tampines Rovers in the AFC Cup quarterfinal tie at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Wednesday.

“Training is very physical and getting better everyday. It’s been good preparation for Wednesday’s game, which is very important for the club. The mental preparation also is very important. These two games, there is a possibility of having different games so concentration must be high. The important thing is not conceding in the game here,” said Rubio on Saturday.

Gifted in possession and tasked with finding the strikers, the veteran revealed that he has struck up quite a partnership with the forwards. “Sunil is very clever and Daniel’s movement is very good. They are different players. Sunil comes deep to keep the ball and pass while Daniel likes to run in behind the defenders. It depends on what they do (for me) whether I play the pass or not,” he remarked.

Now having been with the team for less than two months, it ia the encouraging words from his compatriots, who played in the Indian Super League, that piqued Rubio’s curiosity to make the move to India.

“One of the agents in Spain contacted me. And I heard good things about the country and this city and club from the players and friends (Borja and Jofre) who have played here in India and everything was okay for coming here. Now I am very happy,” he said before signing off.