“Alianza Lima can beat River. The Copa Libertadores has those heroic nights” | INTERVIEW

The start of his career was as furious as it was promising. He had just turned 20 and had already won the first of the three titles he won with América de Cali between 2000 and 2003. He was a left-back with great technique that he could play in the middle. In fact, he was considered by many to be the best winger in America. But just as soccer suddenly gave him everything, at an early age he took it away. His constant injuries made him retire at the age of 33, after playing for various clubs. Two of his former teams face each other tonight for the Libertadores Cup: Lima Alliance (arrived in 2007) and River Plate (2003-04). The Colombian, who is almost 100% recovered from the stroke he suffered in 2019, spoke with DT El Comercio about the alliance vs. River that, if everything continues normally, it will be played tonight.

—How long ago did you decide to create a soccer academy with former soccer player Fabián Vargas and how is it going now?

We’ve been around for about seven years. Now we have around 300 children and we are helping these youngsters in the process to give them another option in life. It is a very beautiful and rewarding job. We already have several players in professional teams: John Jairo Solis in Fortaleza; Nicholas Rodriguez; it is 2004, he is in the Sub 20 of Fortaleza although he already debuted in the first division; Sebastián García in Atlético Huila; and Samuel Rivera who was in Alianza Petrolera, but today he is loaned to a Second team.

—Did the topic of the academy and the work that it entails cushion the sadness of having retired at 33 due to injuries?

Yes. At first it was a difficult decision because it is what I have done all my life. Unfortunately I had a lot of muscle injuries and that’s what made me make that decision. Now the topic is over.

—You started your career in the skies in América de Cali and your first experience outside of Colombia, how did you experience it?

In River Plate I had several stages. The first semester was difficult, not only for but also for the group. We didn’t have a good tournament, but we reached the final of the Copa Sudamericana even though we lost to Cienciano. The second semester was better, we were champions of the Clausura. In general it was a very good step, I took advantage of it a lot to continue growing.

—That final against Cienciano was marked in the history of Peruvian soccer. How did you suffer?

For us it was very hard. We came from a difficult semester and we wanted to relieve the fans with that cup, we tied 3-3 and that result was what made the difference.

—Was there an excess of confidence in facing a rival who was playing his first international final?

No not at all. They just did things right. In Buenos Aires we played a great game, but we had three defensive errors and they took advantage. On the way back it was quite difficult for us due to the height of Arequipa.

—Marcelo Gallardo was on that team, today a River Plate coach. Since that time he already showed signs of being the coach he is now?

Yes, he already looked outlined to be a great technician. He has more than proven to be the best in South America. He was a mature player, he came from Monaco in France and had an important leadership role in the squad. His experience helped us at that time. And as I told you, it was already clear that he was going to take the path of technical director.

—When did it hit Gallardo, and River, to lose that final?

It was a pretty hard blow for everyone. Before we had left Sao Paulo in Brazil on the way. The truth is that we went with a good attitude to be champions, but it didn’t happen. Gallardo, along with Marcelo Salas, managed the group and the situation well so that we didn’t get caught up.

—Marcelo Gallardo is the best coach in the history of River Plate?

Yes. The numbers support it. He has also brought up interesting players from the lower divisions. That makes the club grow in the football and economic part.

—Is this River, with all its contracts, a strong candidate to win the Libertadores this year?

It always will be. River, Boca Juniors and the greats of Brazil are. But then the path determines how they will fare. You always have to have River as a candidate. Now he brought back Juanfer Quintero, a player of hierarchy who gives an important plus in midfield.

—River’s debut, if nothing changes, will be this Wednesday against Alianza Lima, a club where you also played, in 2007…

I would have liked to play more. Unfortunately, the coaching staff that was there at the time was not the one that took me on and that affected me. P

—You came to a team with the pressure of becoming two-time champion and doing well in the Libertadores; however, in the Cup they fail to make a single point. Which was the reason?

I think that was the basis or the cause of the performance we had throughout the tournament and in the Copa Libertadores. When you go to the Cup you have to prepare in a different way, very hard and we didn’t do it.

—If played, can Alianza beat River and his figures?

Yes, Alianza can beat him. Those teams always go from less to more and in football they are eleven against eleven and anything can happen.

—I say “in case of gambling” because due to the social crisis in Peru there is a lot of uncertainty. In Colombia last year something similar was experienced with the protests…

Unfortunately, political issues cause everything to be delayed and, in many cases, affect football. It is not an easy situation to live for the fan. Here in Colombia we live it, now we are in an electoral campaign and I hope that we all make the best decision for our future.

—A few days have passed, but how has Colombia lived after staying out of the World Cup?

It has been difficult because we came from a good process, of being in two World Cups in a row with Professor Néstor Pékerman. I don’t know why the process was cut. The technician was changed, it did not work and the consequence is what we already know. . You have to give feedback and maintain what was done well, and change what was done wrong. Football in Colombia must be restructured, not only at the national team level but also at the club level.

-It’s the end of an era?

Yes. There are players who have already completed their cycle. We are grateful for what they have done, but due to age, the replacement must be done now. Not total, but gradual. There are players who can still continue to shake hands with the national team and you have to have them.

—Should the replacement be with a new technician or continuing with Reinaldo Rueda?

With a different coaching staff, with fresh ideas. And we have to be clear: the federation must let the coach who comes from the lower divisions work, so that a general structure is created. We have important players to do it.

—Ricardo Gareca sounded like a candidate for the Colombian national team at some point. How do you see his work in Peru?

Ricardo Gareca is an idol in América de Cali. We, the fans, love him very much. He sounded like an option, as did Marcelo Bielsa. It would be an option because he has shown with Peru to be a great national team coach. He has taken them to a World Cup and now he is in the playoffs.

—Has the vision of the Peruvian team in Colombia changed in recent years thanks to Gareca?

Peru has always been a team with technically exquisite players, but Gareca has given the Peruvian game more competitiveness and that has been extremely important. Today, Peru is a difficult team, they play very well and have the hallmark of giving themselves to the maximum in each game.

—Peru is a favorite in the playoffs to go to the World Cup?

I see it as a very good option. It is a team with fundamentals to damage the rival and solidarity when it comes to defending. As a South American, I will do my best to qualify.

—A few years ago you suffered a cerebrovascular accident, what exactly happened?

Yes, it was the product of a foramen ovale, which is a small hole between two ventricles that we all have at birth. Normally it closes, but it didn’t close for me. That caused a whirlwind to be made where the result was a blood clot that went up to my brain. When everything happened, I was very scared. We spent about 15 days in tests looking for the cause. Through an MRI that was performed on my brain, it was found that I had already had two strokes before. I thank God very much because he is the one who has me here. He had my dad around when he went through everything to get me to the clinic as quickly as possible. It damaged 30% of my brain but in an area that we never use.

-How are you today?

Six months ago I had a checkup and everything went well. I have to take blood thinners every day after lunch, but everything else went very well. I had no sequels. Suddenly I had a little numbness in my left hand and foot, but I’ve been recovering. The important thing is that I’m fine and I can play football recreationally.

-Sometimes one believes that soccer players -and athletes in general- are exempt from suffering diseases…

Yes, that’s why I call on the professional clubs to be a little more rigorous with their medical exams, even if they take two or three days. But they must try to have the entire history of each player in every way so as not to have episodes to regret later.