Iñaki Williams: “My 90-year-old grandfather cleared up any doubts”

Iñaki Williams (Bilbao, 6-15-1994) made his debut with the Ghana shirt in the match against Brazil. He tells how the process was to make a decision that honors his origins, that places him in the World Cup and that definitively puts aside the option of playing with Spain again.

He debuted with the Ghana shirt against Brazil, the result was not good, but the memory will remain.

I am very happy, content and proud to fulfill a dream, that of my whole family, especially that of my grandparents, who helped me make the decision I have made. I’m proud and looking forward to playing again and for the moment to score a goal to come.

How was that intimate moment afterward with your family?

Extremely emotional, because it was not an easy decision to make, but I do not regret it at all. It is a decision that will help me both personally and collectively and it is something very thoughtful and successful.

When did you really take the step?

The president contacted me and my family. There were several meetings where the idea of ​​him was transmitted to me. What they wanted and what they were looking for. They wanted me to contribute my grain of sand for the country. It was not easy to make the decision because at that moment the doors were open, who knows if at some point, to play with Spain. But everything changed when I went to Ghana and visited my grandparents. My 90-year-old grandfather told me that it would be a dream for him to see me for the Ghana national team. That cleared up any doubts. Fulfilling that for my grandfather decided it, I have made my whole family very happy and I represent what is in my blood.

Like you, Ghana has brought in new players. What is the OBJETIVE?

We have a very young team, but with a lot of quality. Most play in Europe. We can do great things in the World Cup. It is not an easy group, but there is a very powerful team. We can surprise anyone. We are not favorites and that is good for us.

They are paired with Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea.

Portugal is well known for the quality of its players and for its captain, who is a star. It will be a very difficult matchup, but we also have quality in midfield and we are very physical. It cannot be granted to Portugal, if you do not want to suffer, but it will be disputed. With Uruguay it will be even more physical, we are going to measure ourselves from you to you. Korea de Son is a team to be reckoned with. He is having a tremendous career in the Premier. It is an even and very open group.

What is your first memory of a World Cup?

A goal by Ronaldo in the final against Germany in 2002, with that peculiar haircut, shaved and with bangs. I have many others from Ghana, the one in the 2010 quarterfinals when Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty against Uruguay. I was very sad because I lived through that World Cup a lot, very involved with Ghana.

I saw him with his brother Nico. Did you think you could be there one day?

Being able to play a World Cup is within the reach of few. If the coach calls me, it will be a dream come true. I will give everything to put Ghana on top.

Del Bosque made him debut with Spain at the age of 21 in 2016, after that Julen Lopetegui, Hierro, Luis Enrique, Robert Moreno and, again, Luis Enrique passed. Did you ever think that he was going to enter?

I went with the Sub-21 and made my debut with the Absolute. I was in the pre-lists with Julen Lopetegui, but I didn’t have the opportunity. Perhaps my performance was not optimal to be able to be there. That is already past water. The doors of Ghana were opened to me, to be able to represent the country of my parents, my origins. I couldn’t let him get away. I could learn and enjoy. The train passed and I got on it. I hope to enjoy it.

He makes self-criticism with his performance sometimes so as not to be called, but other times people asked him and the selectors were asked about it. Did any coach talk to you? Have you felt undervalued?

In the end, I understand that each coach has to make his own decisions and there are many of us who can contribute to that list. There is a lot of competition and it is not easy for anyone. The coach made the decision that he believed and I accepted it with humility.

Did you consult with Athletic during this decision process?

The decision was more personal, but it is true that before making it I spoke with Athletic. In this case with Aitor Elizegi, the previous president. He was happy for me. The African Cups have been changed to January and I don’t think it will affect when it comes to competing with my club. It is a decision in which the club also had to be part of it, because I owe it to them. It was consensual and I have felt their support and backing.

Nico, his brother, had been growing up. But it is curious that in the first call after you announced his decision, Luis Enrique called Nico for the Absolute very quickly.

It’s incredible, in the end my brother’s performance is to be a player of the Absolute. He is showing that he is burning stages, he is gaining experience. In front of goal he is improving a lot and the truth is, if I were Luis Enrique, I would also summon Nico. He is a talent, a rough diamond that needs to be polished. He has a lot of room for improvement and hopefully he can continue to improve so he can be there.

Except when he plays against Ghana.

We’ve talked about messing around at home. Let’s see who our parents would encourage. Seeing us at the highest level is exciting for them. And we want to give them back with things like this what they have done with us.

Due to your family situation, you have recognized many times that you have tried to be more than an older brother to him. Now, with this noise around him, has he sat down to give you any advice?

Yes, I know it’s not easy. She is 21 years old. I tell him to lead feet and to improve. Now more than ever she is going to have eyes on him. Anything you do or say can be misunderstood. But I see him in a hardworking way, in a humble way, but hungry. That is the Nico that I want to see and that the people of Bilbao want to see. Because that’s what’s going to get you far.

What moment of the game do you go through?

I feel very well, physically with a spark. Emotionally happy. Maturity has made me not worry so much about some things and you free yourself to enjoy yourself on the pitch. I think that is being seen in the games.

Between his debut with Valverde and their reunion there has been a whole personal and sporting cycle of the two. How have they evolved?

He made me debut in the first team, he opened the doors of Athletic for me, which when I arrived was not going through its best moment. Many coaches have passed, but Marcelino has been one of the ones who has helped me the most. Of those he has emphasized the most in what he could improve. He and his team are great and I will always be grateful to them. He has made Iñaki Williams grow as a person and as a player. Now with Ernesto, I am more mature, much more focused on the game, without getting distracted by things outside of sports. Valverde knows my characteristics. There is a good mix of youth and experience in the team and he is managing it very well. We can achieve great things.

Where did Marcelino put the accent?

He has a style of play that suited me a lot, that 4-4-2 with fast and vertical players to go on the counterattack and in the end it benefited me. I felt comfortable, also personally, because he brought José Carrascosa to the club, a psychologist, who helped us a lot to grow. Individually working with me. I owe a lot to Marcel. We did a lot of things to improve as a striker. Specific completions, moves to space in break and in support… Today I am a better player for that.

The work with the psychologist is seen more and more as a very important part.

More than in the short term, it shows in the transition period that you need. We live in a society where anyone can type anonymously from a keyboard without showing up and giving their opinion. People can forget that we are people and have feelings; it can affect us. When you’re young you get distracted by that and it’s no use. Later, you go out into the streets of Bilbao and feel unconditional support. They show me their most loving side. A small minority makes you get distracted at times, but with the work of a professional you grow and learn to give importance to the style of play, how you want to train or perform.

Since Aduriz’s departure, it was normal to see him at the forefront of the attack. This season, with the change of system, he appears sometimes starting from the side. What has the system change given you?

With Ernesto I usually play center forward, but people know that I have a dynamic game, I like to drop the mark, fall to the wings and there I can exploit my virtues. So in the 4-3-3 I feel comfortable, I am freer, falling to the wings. With Nico’s continuity we have more verticality. We have very fast players to counterattack with Muniain and Sancet in the middle with a lot of participation in the offensive game. That makes me feel very comfortable.

Is this a more casual version of Athletic with Valverde?

Yes because there are also quality players at a great time. We have the ball, but when we are not fast and deep to the spaces. There are people to do that. I’m also talking about Berenguer, Guruzeta… And fresh people. We have good handling and speed. He saw himself against Lightning. The Athletic that the fan wants to see, daring. Wanting the ball and being the protagonist. It’s the one we want to keep seeing.

You will like the Premier then.

A lot, because of how they live football and interpret it. It’s very attractive.

How close did you come to going to Liverpool?

I had an option to be able to leave. They were contacts in which I kept my position clear. It’s nice that clubs like this try to get you, but I was always clear that I want to be in Athletic, that my dream is to be able to take out the barge. Make Athletic champion.

And he renewed until 2028. Such a long contract also creates the risk of settling in. How is that avoided?

That contract was made because both parties believed that it was convenient. I try to enjoy and fulfill my dream of playing many games with Athletic. I try to always live up to this club, without hiding, thinking that people feel proud of me. I am where I want to be and that is why I am happy. I try to give the team the best I can, although sometimes it comes out better and other times worse.

Is that where that work with the psychologist has helped you the most?

Yes, managing emotions is not easy, especially when you are younger. Now, at 28, I feel more mature. Before, I was always reading social networks, the newspaper, gatherings… People who often speak without knowing. I try to do my best. When things don’t work out, the one who is the most angry with myself is me. I don’t need anyone to tell me. I don’t need anyone to praise me when I’m okay, or someone to come with the whip when I’m not. I am aware and I have a coach to correct me and give me his point of view. He is the one I have to pay attention to.

He will live a World Cup. He also lacks the Champions.

I had the bad luck that when I went up to the first team they were almost eliminated and I couldn’t play. I have that little thorn stuck, listening to the Champions League anthem in San Mamés. It would be very special. This year we have options, but we have to go step by step.

What is Athletic’s objective?

The captain said it, together with the president and the coach. Enter Europe. I’m not going to say otherwise. We have a team for it and we are going to be focused in the best way on it.

Pedro Sánchez asked for a greater positioning of the clubs against racism after what happened in the derby. You have experienced this first hand in football and your case will go to trial.

Racism is in society, it is something to eradicate. In football it does not predominate within the player’s group, but it does in the society that goes to watch the matches. The clubs have to take a step forward, we are the mirror of many children. No one is born racist, they inculcate it or repeat what they see. You have to set an example and if any club or its fans, in particular, behave like this, there should be an exemplary sanction.

This week it is measured with Nicaragua and then with Almería.

I am looking forward to playing for Ghana again and see if I am lucky enough to score. And then we’ll think about Almería. We are very good and the intention is to stay up there, in the European positions.