“Peru must continue respecting its essence and must recover its best style” | INTERVIEW

-Despite his age, how do you explain Paolo Guerrero’s validity at the high level of football?

It is quite common to find long-lived players who, in another era, would have had to put on the label of former players. I think a lot, of course, has to do with the genetics that help them, but also the new advances in nutrition. A way of understanding professionalism, which is linked to personal care, one of the factors linked to genetics, helps players beyond the luck of not suffering serious injuries, of course, added to the love for what they do. These are surely the reasons that together mean that Paolo can continue to be a starter in important teams and even in the national team.

—How do you look at Peru today, without Gareca and with Reynoso? Is he more defensive than creative, more mature?

Yes, surely, I believe that Peru must continue respecting its essence and must recover its best style. Surely over time you will have better results than if you want to impose a foreign model.

—What feeling has the Reynoso era left you?

I think it’s still too early to make a judgement, I think we should allow a little time to pass. I don’t think Reynoso has much time to plan and we have to wait because the Qualifiers are long and out of 10 they qualify for 7.

— Here in Peru there is an eternal discussion about Christian Cueva, his nightlife, his physical condition. How do you deal with great players like him?

Hahaha (laughs). I love Christian very much. We always sacrifice those who do not have our last name. Cueva is a fantastic player and we should listen to him. He is an intelligent boy and has great charisma. I don’t think he is foolish and irresponsible to risk all the pleasures of life that his professional career gives him. There are moments that he has to enjoy and it is very good that he does them. Many times he envies her and not being able to do what one would like to do causes him to stop punishing the actions of others.

—What is there in the physique and brain of Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi that made them different from all the footballers in the world?

What they have cannot be explained. They were not born to be explainable, they were born to be admired. That is why they are what they are, since it could be explained, their talent would be repeated in others, but that does not happen and they are unrepeatable. I prefer that there is no word in the dictionary to describe them.

— Since 1985, Reyna’s brand has been remembered for Maradona. Would making a personal mark for Messi today be crazy?

Messi from a physical point of view is no longer the same, but that is a decision made by Reynoso, who knows much more than me according to the disposition of his team and how he can beat Argentina. I believe that two teams that have a very good history are going to face each other.

—Can Peru complicate the game for Scaloni’s Argentina?

Of course it can complicate things, without a doubt, I have seen David many times making Goliath’s knees shake. He can complicate your life, I have no doubt.

—How could you beat Argentina from a physical, tactical point of view?

Winning is not an obligation, it is a possibility. I am sure that the entire Peruvian coaching staff and players will do their best to make things go in the best way. Maybe they win the game without deserving it, but that’s football.

—Will Luis Advíncula leave a legacy at Boca Juniors like Julio Meléndez?

No, I don’t think so. He is going to give everything he can, but to talk about Meléndez is to refer to someone extraordinary who marked an era. The comparison is unfair. — Yotún, Zambrano, Gallese, are they also the Peruvian figures that are seen outside? I really like all three. They are important for your selection. I like good soccer players. Today they are very pressured.

—Yotún, Zambrano, Gallese, what do you think?

I like them a lot. I like good soccer players. Boca and River had years of expectations, but I repeat, today the players are under a lot of pressure, they come in with a burden to play, instead of a smile. The show compared to times ago has changed a lot. That is not going to be recovered, since in the media there are people who don’t know about football, but know how to sell.

—Did Zambrano leave his mark on Boca Juniors?

It was not what many expected, but Boca was not going through a good time. Soccer is a collective sport, that often influences it.

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