- Carrillo, ‘Cancha’, Quispe or Grimaldo: who will be the hook against Paraguay after Cueva’s loss?
“I’m enjoying football, I’m not thinking about retirement”
How are you doing at Cajamarca UTC?
Good. The team improved in terms of results, was able to get visiting points and in the last games played in Cajamarca we became strong. That was extremely important for the goal we want.
The coach is showing his full capacity…
Definitely. Coach Carlos Ramacciotti managed to empower some players and that was accompanied by good results.
What is the first objective that the team now has?
Continue to achieve good results as we are still fighting to get out of positions close to the relegation zone; however, we are optimistic for everything we have been doing.
Do they still have a chance to play an international tournament?
Of course, although the first thing that is being achieved through the good results is to move away from relegation. Now, we can also get excited. Because we are in time to be able to add more points that leads to us having the possibility of fighting in an international tournament; so let’s be optimistic and think that we can too.
Do you look at the fixture that UTC has accessible?
We have home games that if we pull it off, we will have a great chance, we are thinking about that.
In your beginnings you played as a winger, but lately you have been doing it as a midfielder. Do you feel comfortable in that position?
I have been playing as an inside midfielder for many years, and I already had a well-known function, and I consider that I manage it well, because I help generating football. At the same time I accompany the attack, and when it is necessary to do so, I withdraw so as not to unbalance the team.
What is the secret of your validity in professional soccer, Joel?
In the teams where I have played, thank God, I always had the opportunity to play and excel. Today I want to continue working and doing what I like the most; that yes, always with the responsibility and the desire to continue growing in the career.
At 34 years old and with a good track record, what stage of your career are you at?
I am at the stage where with my age I can contribute experience. I have been in my soccer career for many years and I know that it is close to reaching its culmination. However, I think I still have time ahead of me. I am enjoying each training session, each game, and that helps me a lot to continue in this career that is currently very competitive.
Have you had proposals from any team in the capital for the next year?
Now I want to end the year well with UTC, then I will analyze what may come later. Now I am enjoying football and this, for me, is very important.
“I wanted to continue in Alianza, but they pressured me”
I remember the year 2010 well. You were in Alianza Lima, you played in the Copa Libertadores and you had some chances to emigrate to clubs abroad. Was it the most important moment of your career?
Yes. For me it was an important year. Alianza Lima, nationally and internationally, did things well. And his fans remember that.
Do you feel like you left a mark?
Yes, thank God I was able to be at that important moment. For me, for the country, for the team, it was a source of pride. It is something that I will always thank football for.
When you came to Matute after this great episode in your career, did you feel the love of the blue and white fans?
Yes, the truth is that I will always be grateful to the fans of the Alianza Lima club because they have always shown me respect and I value that.
At that time there was talk that you could go to Estudiantes de La Plata.
Yes, although nothing concrete. That was precisely one of the reasons why I had a discussion with the leadership of Alianza Lima at that time. These are things that have remained in the past, they are situations that occur and one ultimately has to make a decision.
You had proposals and they did not materialize…
Opportunities not only arose for me, but also for several colleagues. And to a large extent it was because of what we did in the Copa Libertadores.
Why didn’t they materialize? What happened?
The issue was because of the leadership, because each proposal that came to the players was not as clear as the ones that could be given, they were complicated average situations.
Did you feel at that moment that you were not allowed to advance in your career?
My intention was always to enforce the contract and stay as long as I had signed.
How long was your contract?
My contract was 2010 and 2011. I only played in 2010.
I remember that the club asked you to renew your contract, but you didn’t want to. Because?
Because the topic of renovation was kind of weird. They pressured me to sign a renewal and we still had time until mid-2011 to reach an agreement; However, they put pressure on me and decided not to take me to the preseason, complicating the renewal.
If another was the deal, suddenly you would have continued in the institution
My intention was always that, to continue, but if they pressure you like that, no one is in a position to be able to talk.
That case finally ended up in the Chamber of Disputes…
And in the end they agreed with me and that was there (he ended his contract with the Alianza Lima club and was left as a free player to sign in San Martín).
After you left, you played in San Martín. I remember that in a game you had a crossroads with the physical trainer Alexis Cortés, who was part of Gustavo Costas’ coaching staff in the blue and white team. Did you see him again after that event that happened in Matute?
I just saw him in Tarma, because he is a physical trainer for Professor Franco (Navarro). And we greet each other because with him a long time ago we were able to sit down and talk. We both respect each other. What happened between us is in the past and from all that one learns.
Why didn’t you consolidate in Mexico?
I ran out of time. Because I came (to Querétaro) to play one season and I was not in the preseason that the team did. I arrived with games on top, with two to three league games. Adapting was difficult. If I arrived with a suitable time, it would have been something better for me.
“Tapia, Paolo and Gallese will take us to the World Cup”
The positive that you gave in the anti-doping control in 2012 after a match of the national team against its counterpart from Bolivia harmed your career…
It was unfortunate for my career and detrimental for my professional future. This occurred when Sergio Markarián was summoning me to the national team, at an age (he was 23 years old) in which one can explode or can feel in optimal conditions. Thanks to the support I had from my family, I was able to cope with it and it became a learning experience.
Why were you not regular in Ricardo Gareca’s selection?
I was able to get to the Copa América and play in it, that was already important to me. Suddenly, being in another club and being consolidated, or suddenly, playing abroad, would have been important for my career and more chances in the national team.
What memories of the human group of the team that played in Asunción and thrashed Paraguay for the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers in Russia?
The best memories. The selection was characterized by being united, it was a strong group and that was essential to achieve the objectives.
Although you did not attend the World Cup in Russia, no one takes away from you that you added.
Wherever it is up to one, I will always do my best for the good of the collective.
What do you expect against Paraguay in Ciudad del Este?
The team that now makes up the national team is prepared to play in any field, they showed they had good football moments and that will be important for the team and its future goals.
Which new player excites you?
There are many. Piero Quispe, Joao Grimaldo and Bryan Reyna are showing that we can get excited about having new players who are going to support the national team.
What do you like about Bryan Reyna?
In one against one he showed that he was superior to the rivals he faced.
Piero Quispe?
unbalancing. In the last games he scored goals and that gives him more confidence.
João Grimaldo?
Equal. All three are similar. They stood out in their teams and for that reason they were called up.
Of the experienced players, who will be the support that every great team should have?
The selection is making a change; however, it maintains a base that made us qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. I am referring to Pedro Gallese, Renato Tapia and Paolo Guerrero; they can lead the team and take it to everything that Peru wants, which is to qualify for the new World Cup.
You named players who are called pillars…
They have a lot of experience in the national team, they gave their all and they are very important for what is to come in the Qualifiers.
What is your opinion about Juan Reynoso and what possibilities do you see for the team under his technical direction?
Juan Reynoso is a coach who has done well in all the teams where he was. He works well, studies his rivals and doesn’t neglect details before facing them. That, for the selection, is fundamental. Also, he knows all the players. Honestly, I hope it goes well.
Are you excited about being able to return to the national team?
Of course, I have the illusion of being able to be taken into account.
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