From the long journey through the fields of the Spanish provinces to the most prestigious stage in Europe. Goldar came up through the Celta youth academy and played under Luis Enrique, but has found his place in Cyprus, becoming the symbol of Pafos, the most surprising revelation of this Champions League.
Arriving in the summer of 2023 on the Mediterranean coast, in just over two years he has lifted both the domestic cup and the league title, earned the captain’s armband, and, with his composed leadership, has led a club founded only in 2014 all the way to the League Phase of Europe’s top competition.
On its final night, the Cypriot side will host Slavia Prague, with a playoff spot still up for grabs: they’ll need three points and a good dose of hope.
With the Galician defender, we talked about this European dream, the team’s unexpected journey, the dangers of a must-win match, but also about the battles against Bayern, Juventus and Chelsea, the growth of the Pafos project, the legacy of Luis Enrique, and the added value brought to the dressing room by the experience of a European champion like David Luiz.
We’re on the eve of the final matchday and there’s still a slim hope of making the top 24. With what mindset does Pafos approach such a decisive game against Slavia Prague?
"With the same spirit we’ve shown in every Champions League match: to compete at our best. We’re not a team with the experience of the big clubs in this competition, so every Champions League game is played with maximum enthusiasm and commitment. Our chances are slim, but we still have a shot at the playoffs, so we’ll fight until the end."
Qualification doesn’t depend solely on you, and the scenario is very complicated, but winning is the first must. How do you handle, mentally, a match where you have to do your job and then just see what happens?
"We approach it the same way as every other Champions League match. We work to compete against the best teams in Europe, as we’ve already shown this season. We’ll try to win, and if there’s a reward after that, great. But we’re not in a position to give away Champions League matches."
Slavia Prague comes in with nothing left to play for in the standings, but they’re coming off a great match against Barcelona, where they managed to hold on and compete until the end. What kind of opponent do you expect, and what about Slavia worries you the most?
"We also managed to compete against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and we know we can perform at a good level. As for Slavia, we have a lot of respect for them, just as we do for every opponent we face."
They’ve had the whole week to prepare for the match: how much does that matter at this stage of the season?
"It’s true they’ve had more rest days than us, but they’ve also had a period without official matches. Our main strengths have to be humility and respect for every opponent, mixed with relentless ambition and hunger."
In which phase of the game do you think Slavia might be vulnerable?
"I think they’re a very complete team, and I have great respect for what they’ve achieved so far. We’ll need to be very consistent in possession and make the most of the spaces to create danger, all combined with a solid and aggressive defence, because we want to take control of the match."
You’ve played against Bayern, Chelsea, and Juventus. Which of these teams impressed you the most, and why?
"Without a doubt, Bayern. For me, they’re on another level. Their ability to play in tight spaces, the quality of their first touch... but what I like most is their mentality. They have incredible determination, an extremely competitive mindset.
"What surprised me most is something people don’t talk about much. For example, I was assigned to mark Harry Kane individually, I had to follow him when he dropped between the lines or moved away from the box to link up play, since this year he’s also acting as a playmaker. But what really surprised me was that he did the same with me, and at full intensity. He never held back, tracking back 40 meters to win the second ball, even when his team was ahead. If the best striker in the world behaves like that, it means that team is very hard to beat.
"I already admired Kane, but after our match, he earned all my respect."
Do you think PSG under Luis Enrique, your former coach at Celta, are favourites to win the Champions League, or do you see someone else a step above?
"After what I said about Bayern, I have to put them as favourites, but PSG are definitely on the same level. I really hope Luis Enrique and his staff can win the Champions League again, not just because of my personal affection for them, but because I truly admire the way their teams play and how they manage them. Seeing Luis Enrique and his staff succeed will always make me happy, because I know how much they deserve it."
What can you tell us about Luis Enrique’s methods?
"For young players, he’s crucial: he’s someone who makes an impact as a person even before as a coach, a natural leader and a role model to learn from every day. Even on the sporting side, what stood out was the clarity with which he communicated his ideas: just a few concepts, expressed very simply, were enough to shape a match. Those beliefs and that method, which I got to know in Vigo, are the same ones he still uses today."
You’ve shown you can compete for long stretches against top-level teams. In fact, against Juventus and Chelsea, the defeats only came at the end. Is that more a source of pride or regret?
"It’s a source of pride. Being able to hold our own against the best teams in the world is something to be proud of, and it proves we’ve made real what we always said we would. We didn’t want to play in the Champions League just to take pictures with our opponents; our goal was to compete with the biggest clubs, and we did that. Maybe some people were surprised, but if so, it’s because they don’t know the real level of football in Cyprus."
Since Spalletti’s arrival, Juventus seem like a different team: what impression did they make on you in Turin, and which Juventus player impressed you the most?
"I have a great memory of that match, for the stadium, the opponent, and especially because we played a first half worthy of admiration. I really liked Manuel Locatelli: we were both captains that day, and I think he behaved like a true gentleman, with elegance. Qualities that also show in his football: he’s the brain of this Juve and the one who makes the team tick."
At Stamford Bridge, neither you nor David Luiz could play due to injury. How much do you think your absence affected the team’s defensive and emotional management in those key moments?
"A team always performs better when everyone is available, but we have to give credit to the work our teammates did. They held their own against the Club World Cup champions and pushed them to the limit."
Sharing the dressing room with someone like David Luiz isn’t something you see every day, especially at a young club like Pafos. What does his presence bring to the group on a daily basis?
"David Luiz has had a brilliant career, and his experience is important for the team. He’s definitely shared all the knowledge he’s gained over his career, and he’s especially valuable for the younger players thanks to his advice. In the end, that’s what all of us more experienced players try to do within the squad. And David, in this sense, never holds back and is always ready to help."
Do you think you’ll be able to play against Slavia?
"I think it will be very difficult for me to take part, but I’ll never forget the chance I had to play in a competition as big as the Champions League. Personally, I’m very proud to have tested myself against the best players in the world and to have been up to the challenge. Helping the team in the win over Villarreal or in the draws against Olympiacos and Monaco means I’ve achieved my goal.
"I’ve enjoyed the chance to compete against top-level players and in high-pressure situations."
Pafos have already made history by reaching this stage of the Champions League. Do you feel the group is aware of what it has achieved, or is there still hunger to go further?
"The group knows it’s doing something important, and the goal is to keep growing. Both the club and the team want much more, and the idea is to keep working to repeat the great experiences we’re having. Getting to the top is hard, but staying there is even harder, and as captain, I want to make sure we keep giving our fans joy and magical nights: we can’t just settle for the memory of a magical dream."
Speaking of dreams, qualifying for the playoffs seemed impossible, but sometimes dreams come true. For Pafos, is this a finish line or a starting point?
"We’re in the middle of a process. We’ve achieved important successes, but we don’t want to stop. We need to stay humble and ambitious."
And David Goldar, where are you in your career? Do you see yourself in Cyprus for many years, or would you like to test yourself again in a more demanding league, maybe in Italy or back in Spain?
"I’m at a stage where I really enjoy my profession. I feel I’ve helped the club grow and experienced historic successes for this club and this city, and I’m proud of that.
"I’ve learned to take this job day by day, because just as I never imagined I’d come to play in Cyprus, today I don’t know what might happen next. What I do know is that I’ve shown I can compete against the best in Spain and Italy. As a kid, you always dream of playing in the top leagues and in the Champions League, and some of those dreams have already come true..."
