Diego Vázquez has begun its restructuring and generational change in the Motagua after a 2020 without titles that he did not consider a “failure”, but he is aware that he will have to reinvent himself with new players for the future.
This task has led to the departure of players of their extreme confidence as in the case of Wilmer and Félix Crisanto, in addition to the controversial departure of Emilio Izaguirre for sports issues.
However, this determination would not have pleased the lauded former defender with a distinguished career in Europe, a figure of the club and world champion with Honduras, considering that he lacked respect.
Faced with all this: How does Diego Vazquez respond and what plans do you have for your team in this 2021?
What feelings did 2020 leave you with empty hands?
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 got to play the definition of Olympia. It is positive beyond that we could not win the classic, we must accept it beyond the issue of arbitration.
Today there is a lot to correct within the staff, right?
There is always a lot to improve, I think we had a good year, but we were indebted to the Concachampions for the way we were out, in an unusual way without deserving it, but this football has its details, then Olympia overtook us. To say it was a bad year, we only beat one team and they were even matches.
What really affected staff?
All teams lose, until Bayern Munich lost yesterday. If you look at the games we lost, it will be two or three throughout the tournament.
What Motagua do we hope to find this new year?
We are working on this in terms of ups and downs. I’m seeing where we need to have a nursery with an alternative for continuity because we were falling short.
Have you already requested new signings?
Yes, we are in that. First we are working on the guys who are not going to follow, then we see where it is going to be hired.
I have to ask … What happened to Emilio Izaguirre? Isn’t he a player to your liking?
The truth that I am surprised by his statements because, -first- he has been with us for a year and a half and when the team arrived he was two-time champion with Olimpia. I told him very clearly that the headline was Omar Elvir and that he had to fight for a place, but that he did accept it, he was a player who came from Europe, who is part of the institution, that we respected him.
You may be interested in: Emilio Izaguirre is uncovered against Diego Vázquez after his departure from Motagua
Did you understand that at the time?
At the time he understood, but then he didn’t. He left several training sessions when he wasn’t a starter, these are things I didn’t expect from an experienced player – for example – but I knew how to understand it because the players want to play. It happened to me at the time, back in 2000 I was released, Eddy Atala told me – I don’t need you – I was very angry, but then I valued 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 that he would find out for me that he was not going to take it into account – I to say very clearly that it was for sports, that he needed other things for the club and that for that reason he would not take it into account. It is punctually sporty.
Did other players like Felix and Wilmer Crisanto have to say the same thing?
Imagine I also had to say this to songo and Félix, almost crying because they are players I love, I love them, we won a lot of things together. With them Songo we won seven titles, with Felix 6; the same with Emilio, it’s not a personal thing, if I wasn’t going to take it into account, I can’t have a player who isn’t going to have participation, I would be hurting 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 biggest sales. We are all gone. I left, Dear Guevara had to leave, the names pass and the institution remains, I make decisions thinking for the good of the team, my job is to analyze the present of each player.
You may be interested in: Motagua adds its fourth loss ahead of the 2021 Closing
Emilio Izaguirre has two years left on his contract … What would be his determination if the board imposed it?
Yes, I said they would renew him, but not for two years, but for the tournament. But these are my decisions and many I have to make with a lot of pain because I love him.
Didn’t Emilio Izaguirre reach the level to be a starter?
He had good matches, also Omar Elvir, as well as others not so much. My job today is to analyze what the present can give me.
In the past some players revealed problems with you. Today Emilio preaches that he lacked respect …
There I do not agree with Emilio because in my job they only play 11:03 they leave the field, then only eight are happy. When he was a starter he didn’t come to ask questions, imagine that with the covid there are 12 players who are on the bench, if they feel they lack respect, he would have no team. Respect does not go through here, it goes through training the player properly. If one feels respected because he is a substitute or not being a starter, I believe that nowhere in the world can a coach guarantee you that you will be a starter in every match, this is won depending on performance. In this respect I do not agree with him, no one lacked respect at any time, nor would he miss it.
With these cases it is clear that almonds are not allowed due to pressure from players when they want to play.
Well, I’m seven years old on the team and it’s normal, the player wants to play, but his job is to be available when the coach requires it. Maybe they understand the future when they are coaches, I didn’t understand it when I was a player, I understand anger, but it’s just sports. The other two cases (Harold and Eddie) are different.
Will there be more casualties this week?
Maybe, we are analyzing the situation.
I leave room for a message to your fans:
We need your support, I always thank you. In this case rest assured that all the decisions we made seven years ago with all that is Motagua is thinking of the good of the institution with the aim that the team improves and is competitive.