David is also the CEO of the consultancy Innova football and the Pons Method Institute.
1. David, what inspired you to create the Pons Method?
The inspiration to create the Pons Method came from my own experience and a hard lesson: a serious motorcycle accident that practically ended my career as a footballer. From there, I decided to channel my passion towards training. I have always been interested in creating something useful, oriented towards performance, but without losing sight of the competitive fun, which is what I call it: that joy of overcoming and competing, something essential in sport.
2. Why do you think that training with the whole team together can be a mistake?
Always training with the whole team limits the individual potential of the players. The specific qualities, positions and mentalities that each player brings are lost. That is why fragmented and complementary training is fundamental in my methodology. Break down training sessions to focus on individual skills and needs before integrating them into a collective context; this ensures inclusive and focused progress, tailored to each player.
3. In your methodology, you mention the role of mirror neurons. How do you integrate them into training?
Mirror neurons are the scientific basis of the Pons Method and revitalize the analytical approach to training, which for years was vilified. In life, as in football, not everything should be exclusive: it is not about destroying what opposes our vision. In my case, although my playing philosophy will always have the Cruyffian seal, I see the need to use fragmented and analytical training at specific moments. The key is in synergy and tactical empathy.
4. What were the scenarios you imagined when you were developing the Pons Method?
I always thought of the most disadvantaged places. Many of the best footballers have emerged from there. I imagined a player hungry to improve using benches to sit on or pieces of wood as improvised rebounders. The essential thing is not to have the most modern equipment, but to take advantage of what you have to optimize resources, gain time and achieve personalized effectiveness. My method is designed for any context, allowing you to replace players or staff members with simple and effective tools.
5. How does technology affect the Pons Method?
I have seen companies developing new technologies, but the important thing is not the technology itself, but how it fits into the methodology. If it is not implemented properly, they will be far from performance. It is like putting the cart before the horse. Technology has to be at the service of the method, not the other way around.
6. What has been your approach to the rehabilitation of injured players?
I always lacked an intermediate method between the rehabilitation of the footballer and his return to the team. Before, when an injured player returned to the rondo, he did not feel safe. Now, with the Pons Method, he not only regains his physical confidence, but also acquires a deeper and more specific tactical understanding. The player returns not only physically prepared, but also tactically improved.
7. How did your experiences influence the creation of this methodology?
Each experience provided me with small but essential details. I worked with different cultures and players, and in each situation I focused on how to improve both the individual player and the team. From each one I learned something new that today is part of the Pons Method.
8. Why is the fragmentation of training so important in your methodology?
Current training tends to work with the entire team together, which is not always beneficial. The Pons Method fragments the first parts of training to make them more inclusive, rich and personalized. This allows working on individual and collective growth, preparing the players to then integrate into the complete training, where synergies with the team are seen.
- What role do tactical panels play in your methodology?
The tactical panels of the Pons Method allow even the training of a single player to be collective. Everything is recorded, analysed and given feedback, because each session, even individual, contributes to the growth of the team. This gives unprecedented importance to analysis and individuality within the collective. - What benefits does gamification have in training?
Gamification is fundamental because it makes training more fun and attractive. It introduces a technological component that changes the paradigm: players demand more and better methods, and our job as methodologists is to pave the way for them, making the process as motivating as it is competitive. - What would you say to a coach who doubts your methodology?
I would tell him to get out of his comfort zone, that not everything has been invented in football. We are in an era of change and whoever does not adapt plays with a huge competitive disadvantage. Either you wake up or you fall behind. - What message do you have for grassroots football coaches?
Grassroots coaches must learn to manage their resources in the best way. The Pons Method helps them to do so. At certain stages, tactics can be a secondary element, but as the player grows, it becomes the essence of development. You have to know when to prioritize each thing. - What role does empathy play in the Pons Method?
Empathy is the Holy Grail of my methodology. In an increasingly individualistic society, the Pons Method breathes empathetic specificity. It is an ultra-necessary football education, which focuses on both individual development and group cohesion. - What has been the biggest challenge in implementing the Pons Method?
The biggest challenge has been facing resistance from associations and institutions, which often resist innovation. They are, in many cases, the complete opposite of what the Pons Method promotes: they are anchored in appearance, while my approach is focused on real performance. In addition, the ego of some coaches makes implementation difficult. But I must also say that there are many of us true football lovers who are willing to change things. - What is your perspective on success in football?
I always say that in football all clubs want to win, but not all are prepared to be able to do so. Success is not a matter of desire, but of preparation and commitment to a method that leads you to it. Success is not a matter of desire, but of preparation and commitment to a method that leads you to it. - Do you think your methodology could be applied to other sports?
Of course, I have already seen several trying to apply it in their own way to other sports. The structure and principles of the Pons Method are applicable to any discipline where collective and individual performance are fundamental. - How do you describe a good coach according to the Pons Method?
A good coach is hungry to learn. He calls me, he asks me, he seeks constant improvement. It is this attitude that differentiates the good ones from those who simply settle. - Finally, what do you hope for the future of the Pons Method?
I hope it inspires the creation of players who enjoy competing and progressing, thanks to increasingly better-trained coaching staffs. I want the Pons Method to be a tool for coaches and players to find a purpose and enjoy the process of becoming better versions of themselves. I hope this version of the interview meets your expectations, highlighting the key elements of the Pons Method and projecting a strong, empathetic and performance-oriented image.
