Víctor Rivera, two-time champion with San Martín: “The club should not disappear because of everything it gave to Peruvian football” | INTERVIEW

It is not the most traditional club, nor is it the most popular; but the San Martin It was always a model club, a mirror to follow. Founded in January 2004, it had its glory years with the two-time championship in 2007 and 2008 with Víctor Rivera, and the 2010 title with ‘Maño’ Ruíz; but today he is a victim of austerity: descended to League 2, although there is some hope in a TAS ruling. In days of uncertainty and melancholy, ‘Chino’ Rivera, the last two-time Peruvian soccer coach with the ‘Santos’, remembers those passages of continuous success that also moved to the international level with historic victories such as the one achieved against River Plate of the ‘Cholo’ Simeone and his record of stars such as Radamel Falcao, Marcelo Gallardo, Alexis Sánchez, among other stars.

-How did you take the descent of the San Martín?

Honestly, it is difficult to find the right words. I am grateful for having been part of the history of the club with unforgettable achievements that will last forever. I feel very nostalgic remembering the good times and I do not lose the illusion that San Martín will return to Primera at some point and relive all the good contributions it gave to Peruvian football with the young people who appeared thanks to its quarries and the teams it formed.

-It is not yet known one hundred percent if the club will try to be promoted from League 2 or disappear

We have to wait and see what decisions they will make, but the club is going to remain in the history of Peruvian football as a model of institution that at some point, beyond what is said, hopefully it can resume and return to professional football. I feel that San Martín should not disappear for all that it gave to Peruvian football.

-You managed the club between 2005 and 2009, and they were two-time champions in 2007-08, the last in national football, what was the secret to achieving the titles in such a short time after being founded?

It was a great joint effort from all areas. From the minor divisions to the first team. I was lucky to be the first head of the technical unit and we always work hand in hand: methodology, game model, etc. And within the added values ​​there are two key points: the way in which Mr. Álvaro Barco managed as a senior team and Mr. Alberto Macía as a minor.

-Within those years of continuous success, San Martín beat River Plate twice in two different editions of the Copa Libertadores: in 2008 here and in 2009 in Argentina, which of the victories does he get?

Both are important, historical, but I would stick with the one obtained here, in the Monumental de Ate. River arrived with a team full of figures such as Rafamel Falcao, Alexis Sánchez, Marcelo Gallardo, Sebastian Abreu, Ariel Ortega; and they were directed by Diego Simeone. It was incredible.

-Any anecdote you remember from that game?

Pepe Díaz’s great goal always goes through my head. Then the interview with Argentine journalist Marcelo Benedetto, who was totally surprised with the team’s play. Also what was experienced in the dressing room, the truth is priceless. It is something that those of us who were present are always going to take with us.

-They also beat other historical teams such as América de México, Nacional de Paraguay and Gremio de Porto Alegre

Yes, we had that honor of defeating them and representing Peru in the best way. We played against Gremio in 2009, they eliminated us in the second round of the Copa Libertadores but it was a great key. Memories that fill me with pride.

-They were years in which the success of the San Martín was also from the country, why do you think that then the club began to fall until it hit rock bottom this year?

I do not know. I prefer not to comment on that because I was not there. I left the club, I went to other clubs to continue my career and I only kept the love, the experiences and the fond memories.

-How did Christian Cueva make his debut at the club at the age of 16?

He debuted in 2008, in a team that was fighting for the title and he did it in a great way. That, I believe, shows all his conditions, despite his young age. For me it is an immense joy to have given him that opportunity to show his talent in professional football.

-At that age, did you already give clues about what you were going to be today: one of the most important players in the Peruvian team?

Yes, and we talked about it many times, surely he must remember it. We always told him that his growth was going to be gradual and that he was going to reach the senior team, that he had the talent to transcend and play abroad. The good news is that he took the advice for good and tried hard to be where he is right now.

-One move that marked it was the missed penalty against Denmark. He confessed to being very unwell after that. Did he contact you for advice?

We chatted several times after that. Thank God he always had the support of his family and professionals who have known how to guide him. He also knew how to recover his footballing level and his mentality. He is a player who has always surrendered to the confidence of the technical command of the Peruvian team.

– Do you think that criticism is often unfair against him?

Criticism and praise are part of the world of football. You have to know how to cope with them and learn to live with them.

-Pedro Gallese is another who left San Martín, he is the goalkeeper with the most matches in the history of the national team and is one of the 20 nominees for the best goalkeeper in the world

Pedro is another who fills me with joy, with pride. I remember that he had very experienced goalkeepers like Leao Butrón in front of him, but he always showed a lot of discipline, he tried hard in training.

-What do you think was Pedro’s secret to being the goalkeeper he is today?

I remember a lot that when I directed him the last time in Juan Aurich, in 2016, on each trip we made, sometimes I would sit near him on the plane and observe that he was with a tablet analyzing the movements of the attackers of the rival on duty, who could take free kicks or penalties. That is something that stuck with me as proof that effort leads you to achieve great things.