Diego Vazquez has started restructuring and generational change in the Motagua after a 2020 without titles that he did not consider a “failure”, but aware that he will have to reinvent himself with new players for the future.
This task has led to the departure of players from his extreme confidence as in the case of Wilmer and Félix Crisanto, in addition to the controversial advance of Emilio Izaguirre for sports issues.
However, this determination would not have pleased the award-winning ex-defender with an outstanding career in Europe, a club figure and a World Cup player with Honduras, as they disrespected him.
Before all this, how does Diego Vázquez react and what plans does he have for his team in 2021?
What feelings has 2020 left with you, closed empty-handed?
I don’t see it that way, in the last tournament we were the best team, we were in first place. In this tournament we had to play the definition of Olympia. Furthermore, it is positive that we could not win the classic, that we have to go beyond the refereeing issue.
Today there is a lot to correct within the team, right?
There is always a lot to improve, I think we had a good year, but the Concachampions owed us a lot of thanks for the way we were left out, in an unusual way without deserving it, but this football has its details, when Olympia surpassed us. Suppose it was a bad year, only one team beat us and it was even games.
What really affected the squad?
All teams lose, even Bayern Munich lost yesterday. If you look at the games we’ve lost, it will be two or three in the entire tournament.
Which Motagua do we hope to find this new year?
We work on that up to the ups and downs. I look at what position we need to have a team with an alternative to continuity, because we fell short.
Have you already applied for new acquisitions?
Yes, we are working on it. First we work on the boys who are not going through, then we look where they are hired.
I have to ask you … What happened to Emilio Izaguirre? Not a player to your liking?
The truth is that his statements surprise me because, firstly, he has been with us for a year and a half and when the team arrived he was a two-time champion with Olimpia. I told him very clearly that the sitting player was Omar Elvir and that he had to fight for a position but he accepted it, he was a player who came from Europe, who is part of the institution, that we respected him.
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Did you understand it at the time?
He understood at the time, but not then. He left several training sessions when he was not a starter, these were things I didn’t expect from an experienced player for example, but I understood why players want to play. It happened to me back then, in 2000 they released me, Eddy Atala told me – I don’t need you – I got very angry, but later on I appreciated the sincerity.
Did you call him personally?
Emilio Izaguirre is respectful, he has been professional in many ways, but I told him when I called him – because I did so he would find out for me that I wouldn’t take it into account – I told him very clearly that it was because a sports problem, that he needs other things for the club and that he would therefore not take them into account. It’s punctually sporty.
Did other players such as Félix and Wilmer Crisanto have to tell you the same?
Imagine if I had to say that to Songó and Félix too, almost crying because they are players that I love them, that I love them, that we have won a lot together. With them Songó we won seven titles, with Félix six; Same with Emilio, it’s not a personal thing, if I didn’t take it into account, I can’t have a player who doesn’t compete, I would hurt him. At the time I told the board to renew it but now I need other things for the team and the player has all the respect he deserves, I know it was one of the most important sales. We are all gone. I left, Amado Guevara had to leave, the names passed and the attitude remains, I make decisions and think about the well-being of the team, my job is to analyze the present of each player.
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Emilio Izaguirre has two years left on his contract … What would his decision be if the board imposed it on him?
Yes, I said to renew, but not for two years, but for the tournament. But those are my decisions and I have to make many with a lot of pain because I appreciate them.
Emilio Izaguirre did not reach the level to become a starter?
He had good games, also Omar Elvir, like others who are not so much. My job today is to analyze what the present can give me.
In the past, some players have disclosed issues with you. Today Emilio preaches that he was disrespected …
I disagree with Emilio there, because in my task only eleven play and three leave the field, so only eight are happy. When he was the starter he didn’t come to ask questions, imagine with the covid there are 12 players sitting on the couch, if they feel like you don’t respect them they wouldn’t have a team. Respect does not go through there, but by training the player accordingly. If someone does not feel respected for being a substitute or not a starter, I believe that nowhere in the world can a coach guarantee that you will be a starter in all games, which is won depending on the performance. In that respect I disagree with him, no one ever disdained him, and neither did he.
With these cases he shows that he does not allow himself to be almond shaped by pressure from players when they want to play.
Well, I’ve been on the team for seven years and it’s normal, the player wants to play, but it’s his job to be available when the coach needs it. Maybe they will understand the future if they coach, I didn’t understand when I was a player, I understand anger, but it’s only sport. The other two cases (Harold and Eddie) are different.
Are there more victims this week?
It may be, we analyze the situation.
I leave room for a message to your fans:
We need your support, I always thank you. In this case, you can be sure that all the decisions we made seven years ago with all that Motagua is thinking about the well-being of the institution with the goal of improving the team and being competitive.