This statement reflects a scene on an airplane where a coach, known to fans for his long association with the team, faced intense scrutiny. In the recollection, pressure was mounted publicly, with hostility at times directed toward a person he has long respected and who happens to be the brother of a player he holds in high regard. According to a Prensa Ibérica dispatch cited by El Periódico de Catalunya, such moments occurred during a World Cup celebration and involved comments that were controversial enough to draw national attention. [Citation: Prensa Ibérica/El Periódico de Catalunya]
Vilda, who testified as a defendant, maintained that he would never pressure anyone and that those who know him understand this about his character. He asserted that any footballer trained over the past seventeen years could attest to his commitment to fairness and to the federation. His ongoing dedication to the sport and to the federation is part of why some observers describe his public role as a deputy chief prosecutor in the National Court, a title that underscores the seriousness of the accountability process. Marta Durántez reminded the court to focus on the questions without inserting personal commentary. [Citation: Prensa Ibérica/El Periódico de Catalunya]
The former coach described visiting the player three times within a twenty-four hour period to see if she could speak with him. He explained that he noticed the player and others felt overwhelmed and that the aim of the conversations was to reduce media pressure and safeguard performance. He rejected any claim of persistent calling and asked the judges whether calling someone twice in a single day could be considered insistent. The answer, he believed, would hinge on the context and the nature of the relationship. [Citation: Prensa Ibérica/El Periódico de Catalunya]
Vilda asserted that his concern centered on the player’s welfare rather than on the club president, reflecting a sense of special regard for her built over many years. He added that during the World Cup he received messages that showed appreciation for the team’s efforts and its achievements. The passion of the moment, he suggested, did not justify any misstep, and he framed his involvement as a protective, sports-focused action rather than a manipulation of events. [Citation: Prensa Ibérica/El Periódico de Catalunya]
“If I don’t call up one of the best players in the world, I would have made the wrong choice.”
Asked whether he threatened retaliation, he responded that such an idea was unfounded. He argued that the only potential retaliation would be not selecting a player for the national team, a decision that would reflect a strategic choice rather than coercion. He insisted that not selecting a world-class player would be a poor professional decision after a decade of work. He described himself as someone who values performance highly and sees himself as an actor in the sporting arena, focused on results and fairness. [Citation: Prensa Ibérica/El Periódico de Catalunya]
No response from Tomé
When questioned about why the successor coach Montse Tome did not reach out, Vilda said there had been no contact. He noted that Tome had extended congratulations when she was appointed, but the lack of a reciprocal response surprised him, especially since he believed open communication would help avoid misunderstandings. He also stated that he could not know the player’s emotional state because Hermoso had not spoken to him directly. [Citation: Prensa Ibérica/El Periódico de Catalunya]
From his perspective, the coach saw the player as genuinely uncomfortable and did not want to contribute to a situation where she felt overwhelmed or pressured. He said he went to speak with the player’s brother to convey his understanding of the situation and to present his perspective without pressuring his sister to take any particular position. He could not recall every exact phrase but remembered the core message he wished to convey to Rafa Hermoso. The national team remained the player’s decision, not his alone. [Citation: Prensa Ibérica/El Periódico de Catalunya]
Vilda explained to the referee that, as national coach, his priority was to safeguard players and their interests. He emphasized that Jenni Hermoso stood as one of the most important figures of the world championship, a player who helped shape an historic victory. In his view, the moment demanded care to prevent the celebration from being overshadowed by controversy. He stressed that his intention never extended beyond ensuring a smooth and memorable event for the team and its supporters. [Citation: Prensa Ibérica/El Periódico de Catalunya]
Regarding the kiss involving Rubiales and Hermoso, Vilda said he did not witness the immediate moment from his position behind the stage line. The sequence of events grew tense as the celebration continued off the podium, with family needs and logistic concerns taking priority, including a hospitalization for Hermoso’s sister. Once the team boarded the plane, the mood shifted into a more introspective atmosphere. The historic victory had already been achieved, but the attention now turned to the fallout and the media uproar that ensued after the kiss was seen around the world. In Vilda’s view, that moment complicates the memory of a championship that had otherwise represented a turning point for the sport in the nation. [Citation: Prensa Ibérica/El Periódico de Catalunya]