Raúl Asencio heads into Real Madrid’s new season looking to leave behind a difficult end to the previous campaign, and according to his personal trainer, Luiso Hernández, the defender has used that disappointment as motivation.
Speaking in an interview with AS, Hernández detailed the work Asencio has put in during the offseason, his adaptation to Xabi Alonso’s ideas, and why he believes the center-back has everything needed to establish himself at the club.
Hernández revealed that Asencio arrived eager
to improve after an underwhelming Club World Cup.
“In Asencio I met a footballer who was incredibly enthusiastic because he was just starting his professional career. At the same time, he was eager to turn things around, as he had recently come from a Club World Cup where he wasn’t happy with his performance. That was a turning point for him, motivating him to work even harder.”
A significant part of the summer focused on helping the defender adapt to the tactical and technical demands introduced by new head coach Xabi Alonso last summer.
“He found himself in a completely new environment. There was a change of coach, and Xabi arrived with demands that were completely different from what they were used to, especially in his position. In Raúl’s case, a lot of technical ball work had to be done. It wasn’t that he wasn’t used to working on those situations, but based on the coach’s philosophy and what his playing style required, he had to resolve situations more or less along those lines. That was the main focus when we started working with him. Having the natural ability to find a passing lane when under pressure, being able to play quickly, with few touches…”
Hernández also discussed the balance between coaching and natural ability, arguing that while players can improve many aspects of their game, certain qualities are innate.
“It’s true that there’s always room for improvement in every skill, but I firmly believe that natural talent exists. Natural talent isn’t just Messi; it encompasses many other things. Raúl, for example, has a natural talent for timing his runs into crosses that can’t be taught or learned; you either have it or you don’t. If everything could be developed, everyone would be in the top division and playing for Real Madrid. There are aspects you can work on and improve, but you won’t be good enough at them to be a game-changer.”
Despite acknowledging that Asencio’s previous season was inconsistent overall, Hernández believes the defender possesses the mentality and character required to thrive at one of the world’s biggest clubs.
“The main point to highlight is that he has all the qualities to succeed at Real Madrid. On the one hand, he has an overwhelming personality, which he has demonstrated by going from being a key player in the first team almost overnight, especially under Ancelotti. His last season, generally speaking, wasn’t great. But, despite some very inconsistent periods, when he’s on form, his presence is very noticeable. He needs to feel trusted by the coaching staff and play regular minutes. He’s a guy who likes challenges, doesn’t shy away from pressure, and thrives when things get tough. He’s the kind of player profile that Real Madrid needs, in terms of personality. When others are afraid, he isn’t, and that’s a skill that can’t be taught.”
According to Hernández, the key to helping Asencio move forward has been accepting the realities of playing for Real Madrid while keeping his focus on earning his place.
“The secret has been to normalize the situation. To understand that Real Madrid is the most demanding stage in the world and that when you’re at Madrid, you’re exposed to the possibility of these kinds of things happening. The reality is that despite all the external noise, you might be here today and gone tomorrow. He’s always told me he wants to stay at Madrid, be important, and succeed. That’s why we’ve worked to ensure he arrives in the best possible condition for this preseason, which is a new and different context for all the players at Madrid. Even though last season wasn’t the best, now the situation is completely different because everyone starts on equal footing. Beyond that, I think Raúl’s profile fits perfectly with the new coaching staff’s vision.”
Hernández concluded by reflecting on how advances in sports science and individualized training have helped modern footballers extend their careers.
“Today’s footballers have many resources to extend their careers. Clubs also employ professionals who meticulously manage everything; they know which days to train, how much rest to dedicate to each player… It’s not that this information was unknown before, but rather that we lacked the tools to analyze it all so thoroughly. Furthermore, footballers take much better care of themselves individually. In this new trend of treating each player as a project, there are individualized improvement plans that contribute to a longer football career.”
