“I looked for all the ways to play in Alianza Lima and when it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen” | INTERVIEW

I noticed he really wanted to say things. To celebrate this sweet moment that you are going through with LDU, but at the same time bitter because its continuity is not defined due to economic issues. It was also important to talk about the change in the technical direction of the peruvian team after the departure of Juan Reynoso and why the team could not perform in the first six rounds of the qualifying rounds, which have put Peru in last place in the table.

However, there was one issue that he wanted to clarify above all things with the Peruvian press: why didn’t he sign for Alianza Lima this season? This answered:

—Politician? Salomón Lerner, could it be?

Yes, it could be, he… Then I spoke with a businessman who is related to, Bellina? He is a Chilean businessman who has a connection with him. The guy sent me his authorization so that he can negotiate with Alianza and until today I have not received the call. Then, I myself sent messages to a club leader and asked him to call me when he can, I’m sure if he sees this note he will remember.

— Well, it’s good for the fans to know, because many think that you were the one who didn’t want to go to Alianza Lima. That was left to the fans…

The manager I called told me that he was in a meeting and that he was going to call me back and to this day I am waiting.

—They didn’t answer you that you are captain of the Peruvian team…

I think they should respond to anyone, no matter who it is.

—And do you think that the opportunity to play for Alianza Lima is going to happen?

Today I can’t say it, because I looked for all the ways to play in Alianza and when it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. God knows why, I always leave things to God.

The Peruvian dream

—What happened in these first six games of the Qualifiers?

It’s hard to explain what happened. We arrived with very little time to work and it was very difficult for the group to understand Juan’s idea. But the group still did everything possible, working and following the instructions of the technical command. From the psychologist, from everyone. We tried to support them but the results were not forthcoming. And football today is like that, if you don’t have results, it is inevitable that these things will happen. We didn’t get the points we needed to continue in the fight for the World Cup. I feel very sorry because we didn’t get that click with Juan and the results didn’t help. Football is like that and surely he is going to have more revenge.

—The criticism of the bad results has been very harsh on Juan Reynoso, but in reality, how responsible are you as players?

The players are more to blame because we are the ones on the field. It’s a shame that what we wanted was not achieved, to understand Juan’s idea. I wish them the best of luck now and I am sure that Juan and his technical team will do very well, because he is a great person and a great coach.

— Have you been able to speak, for example, with Christian Cueva?

I spoke with Christian 500,000 times. He knows what he has to do. I already gave him my point of view, I already told him what he had to do. The national team needs it. He is a different player who gives a lot to the national team, so let’s hope that he can recover soon and we will have the Christian Cueva that we all know.

— Can we still make it to the World Cup?

I think so, there is a lot left. As long as there are possibilities we have to continue fighting.

—What has to change?

Peru in general has to change, we are not doing things well in every sense. Journalists, for example, do not make a general analysis of what is happening. They say that the team does not run, but without taking the time to see how much each one runs. Just as there is constructive criticism, it seems to me that there are criticisms that seek to make things go wrong.

—But if what is best for all of us is to go to the World Cup…

There are Peruvians who want the national team to do poorly. That out of envy they don’t want the team to continue succeeding and going to the World Cup. Suddenly they wanted to play football and couldn’t, that’s why they think that way.

—Are you worried about the lack of replacement?

Good players have come out, but we need more. It is a very big responsibility for them to come in and change a game, they still have to prepare for that. They should have a nice experience in the national team, not ugly like the one they are experiencing.

Your future at LDU

— Have you considered being a coach in the future?

Nooo, not at this moment. I already got my license, but it is something that will happen in five years or more. But today I want to continue playing.

— Are you staying at LDU or is your departure imminent?

I would like to stay, but it is not something that depends on me. It is something that depends on the managers at this time. I would love to. My main objective for next year is… I’m not going to say it, because if not, it won’t be fulfilled (it is known that I want to win the Copa Libertadores).

—How can you summarize these six months at LDU after winning the double?

It feels amazing. It was my goal. Even though I started in Racing, I left it fighting for the Libertadores. I told myself before arriving in Argentina: ‘I have to get to a team that fights for the Libertadores.’ Unfortunately what happened happened, I left Racing in first place in the group stage, but I needed to play and I spoke with president Víctor Blanco, I told him that I needed to play, that I needed minutes. I told him I wasn’t going to stay. I needed to play because I had been unemployed for a long time. My body asked me to play, I’m not here to play for 20 or 25 minutes. So I asked him to terminate the contract. He asked me to think about it and stay. But in the end we reached an agreement and I called it off. I wanted to continue playing for a team that is in Libertadores.

— That’s where Luis Zubeldía sees you on the ESPN program…

He says it doesn’t he? They called me and told me if I was interested in the League. I was playing the Sudamericana, it is a big club, the biggest in Ecuador, I knew it. If I hadn’t been playing Sudamericana, I would have thought about it. My intention was to win an international title. If it wasn’t the Libertadores, then the Sudamericana. Then the teacher calls me and tells me: ‘You are the only one missing to win the Sudamericana, I am sure that with you we will win it.’ I told him that it was my biggest goal to win an international tournament. Then they sent me the proposal quickly and I told my wife: ‘We’re going to Quito.’

—Was it a good decision on a sporting and personal level? Your photo is the largest on the front of the stadium…

It’s nice to receive the love of the fans. The people are very respectful, it is a very orderly city. I am delighted in Quito. And what one seeks is to repay that on the field with triumphs and titles. What people want is to win trophies and that is what we have achieved at LDU. By winning the LigaPro we have closed the year with a flourish. We have won everything.