Riquelme accompanied the squad throughout their stay in Córdoba. Photo: JUAN JOSE GARCIA – CLARIN
Juan Román Riquelme avoided getting in the middle of the stage, as at other times, during champion Boca’s celebration at Mario Alberto Kempes ’stadium on Sunday. In fact, he barely came down to the field to accept the Professional League Cup gold medal from the hands of AFA president Claudio Chiqui Tapia. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it.
This Monday afternoon, after returning to Buenos Aires, the Xeneize vice president gave his first statements after the title, the fourth in his administration with Jorge Amor Ameal, and asked appreciates the achievement of the team led by Sebastián Battagliaabout whom, he says, they do not have “No doubt” with the Football Council.
The main change in position from last week to these days has occurred in the case of Colombian striker Sebastián Villa and the complaint of sexual abuse that shook the foundations of the campus within a week. “It’s a very sensitive issue that you have to think about 74 times what you’re going to say, but we’re not judges, we live normally, we deny everything that happens, just like all of you”he maintained, although he admitted he was unaware of the skills demonstrated on Monday that complicated the soccer player’s situation.
And he insisted: “Football is one thing, another subject is another. We all refuse other topics, I’m a normal person, I’m annoying like everyone else. Then there are legal people from our club who take care of it, there’s a judge and when Justice decides what happens, the club will determine the proposal. I’m talking about football and this kid (Villa) know how to play soccer. I’m not that smart to speak, but I’m simple, I don’t think too much. ”
“There are psychologists, a lot of people behind him, he has people working for him. We from our area accompany him every day, he feels well, beaten accordinglybut we can’t do more there until everything is clarified, ”he added.
The Professional League Cup title: “For us, it’s very important to compete, to reach the end, and the boys deserve it. We have players who have come in recently, who are adjusting, who are getting better as the games go, like Benedetto, Romero, some new and let’s say that this tournament is very important for us, because we want to compete in the Copa Argentina, in the Copa Libertadores, because on Thursday we have a very important match “.
The small amount in Boca’s achievements: “Always winning the tournament in Argentina in how difficult it is and how close it makes you happy here thoroughly. Perhaps the things Boca has achieved are not appreciated, but to see the fan so happy makes someone happy. Two years ago we were a year and a half, we were the team that won the most titles this season, we still needed the two finals we had to play in. We had to be given one of the stars for winning the two local tournament in In the same year, we don’t know what will happen, but we have some things pending. Undoubtedly, Boca in two and a half years this year will be the one competing with the best, but little is appreciated. ”
media reviews: “The critics are the people who do their job every day, what they show every day, I respect them and understand the game, and I know that as the election approaches they have a lot to say, but the fan from Boca is happy, because it shows in every game at the Bombonera. Sunday was beautiful, we are grateful, there are still people coming back from Córdoba, but they enjoyed the team and that they won by so many goals. They want to be cause nervousness every day, but we need to keep the necessary calm to continue on the path we have chosen. “
From political club to football club: Although he did not name those who wanted to cause nervousness, it was a shot by elevation for the previous administration, led by Daniel Angelici, which he also secretly accused of focusing more on politics than Argentina’s most popular sport. “Boca is my club, it’s my home, I’m a fan just like all the fans and we’re going to take great care of the club. We’re very happy because we’re gradually becoming a football club again., when we come we don’t. We want to compete knowing that sometimes we win, sometimes we don’t, but we want to do what the fans want “he said, who also not setting aside his candidacy for the presidency.
His mother’s advice served him amid criticism of Battaglia: “My mom speaks very little, but she always lets me, so I try to listen to her. Sometimes I have to put up with being touched because I’m listening to my mom or I’m paying attention to her, but I try to listen to her and she’ll tell me: ‘The angry one loses.’ We have no doubts about Battaglia, because after the fight with Godoy Cruz they talked all day about whether he will continue or not, that Riquelme will meet. And I was lucky that the next day I asked permission to drink mate with the team, so the next day we spent 30 or 40 minutes with the team, we laughed a lot, we talked about soccer and now they are the best at country “.
Next Thursday is the final against Deportivo Cali: “One takes for granted that Corinthians would have to win (against Always Ready), we are confident that we will have a good game, without a doubt that the people will be accompanying and support us much and from today the celebrations will end and we’ll think about the final on Thursday. It’s going well because the players are getting used to playing important games every few days and that’s why you’re pushing yourself to the max “.
Source: Clarin
