El Patón Guzmán: "It was very nice that the team celebrated close to the people"

When he speaks, it is always important to listen to him, he always invites reflection. Because of what he sowed in his soccer career, because he is fully identified with one of the city's clubs and because he shared a squad with those who are crowned world champions today. He is a friend of theirs, as well as Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María. He is Patón Guzmán, champion with that Newell's del Tata Martino, one of the Argentine goalkeepers in the 2018 World Cup in Russia and has been playing for UANL Tigres for a long time. From there, in Mexico, he lived and enjoyed the title, and praised the national team because he transcended "beyond the result." He defended the forms of the festivities because they were made with the people who "identified with them", and even praised Dibu Martínez, with whom "I feel fully identified".

"Everything is very emotional, very exciting, especially the last two weeks," Patón told the Trascendental program, interviewed by José Maggi and Hernán Cabrera. "I had to live it to the fullest because I was in preseason and I could watch all the games, analyze them, dream more and more. The truth is that as the World Cup progressed, the illusion grew bigger and bigger. It happened to all of us and the last week It was ecstatic," Guzmán began by saying, in full preseason with the Tigers.

I imagine that the moment of greatest tension for you and the Argentines who play there was when we faced Mexico.

There was a lot of tension. The truth is that the Mexicans did not have so many expectations about the match before the World Cup began, but when Argentina loses the first match, Mexico draws and has a good chance, it was like they revived and were very excited. I also think that until Leo's goal, they had made a great game, a barbaric proposal. As Tata said, the only way to save that match for Argentina was with a genius from Messi, some individuality, because collectively Martino's approach had been very good. In addition, there is a bit of pica with the Mexicans in soccer, so it was lived with some tension.

El Patón Guzmán and his French teammate, former team, André Guignac. They made a bet on the World Cup, which the Argentine won.

Did you have so much faith that you made a bet if Argentina was champion?

Yes, it was crazy, at least in the previous one it was. They invited me and André Guignac, my French teammate (he also played with the French team) with whom we shared Tigres a while ago, to do a social action and whoever lost had to pay for toys. We are putting together the move, although the bet was a bit of an excuse to do this type of thing here, which we believe helps those who need it and now it is being organized how it will be.

If you had been in the national team, what would you have said to Chiqui Tapia, "let's get on the balcony of La Rosada" or not?

The images that were seen were crazy, I don't know how they were going to get to La Rosada. It already seemed difficult to get to where they had done with the bus and all those people around. I don't know what I would have done. The feeling was very nice that they did a section very close to the people. I don't remember what it was like in 86, but the value was having been close to the people, because that way you take away the politicization of the event a bit. That is a great merit of the team, people felt represented, so what they did was very nice.

Guzmán, in the days of the national team.

Two questions in one: did you call Leo or Ángel in these hours? And the other: do you have your bags ready in case Messi decides to play at Newell's?

I always have a small suitcase ready (laughs), with a pair of gloves and a pair of boots above all, because I can't get the size there. And regarding the first question, with Leo and Fideo they are the ones who texted me the most, I also did it with Lisandro or Dibu Martínez. And at one point, I think it was after the victory against the Netherlands or Croatia, with Guido Pizarro, another of my Argentine teammates, we talked a lot watching him from another place than from fanaticism and we found some words that we thought necessary to bring them closer to him, a conclusion or group sensation, that this selection transcended the result. He was creating a form, an identity, and he knew how to defend it with values ​​and messages that were not incroguent. It was not that the coach said one thing and the next day he did another, and the players did the same, but that a drop in line was respected, a form transmitted with passion within the field. And I thought it was nice to send it to Leo, I left him a message and every time I receive an answer from him he makes me feel like a son of a bitch, because he has a thousand things and he answers you, thanks you and a conversation is imposed. The same thing with Ángel, although I have had somewhat deeper conversations at the time of the Copa América because I know not only the desire but the suffering for what has happened in certain situations. In short, that's what I approached Leo during the World Cup, especially so that he realizes that they achieved everything, bringing them closer or attracting with that of inviting them to get on the boat. That was a huge achievement, for people to feel that it didn't matter if they won or lost, but rather that they defend them with the ways they had been playing and with their hearts. Cast, In today's football of a terrible maelstrom and ferocity, it is education. The management merit of the coaching staff was very great, they complemented the new with the old very well.

From your position as goalkeeper, is there anything to copy or learn from Dibu Martínez, who was talked about so much, from psychological care to how to make the opponent who is going to kick you nervous?

And, I feel very identified with Dibu (laughs). That day and return with the kicker, who had more relevance in recent times. The goalkeeper realized that the kicker has a lot of pressure and sometimes raises a doubt, moves a fiber or tells him that you know how he kicks influences. I take the best of him, he is a beast under the goal and the most representative thing was that extraordinary save on the hour, that opening of arms and legs worthy of copying.

This conquest also puts the neighborhood clubs back on the discussion, where the Messi or the Di María came from. In what way do you think it is necessary to call the attention of the officials to serve them better?

I would tell them that we must not forget not only those who emerged from there, but also the social role they play, that every time they have to improve their conditions to attract people, so that the kids really want to be there. That the field is more or less beautiful, that there is fun, support, a buffet, details. I think about what I had in Mercadito and maybe the clubs need to improve those conditions to really be trainers. We all know the social role they play and if they were neglected I think it was by choice, not because they didn't realize it. Just like schools, they are two places where children need to be contained, because otherwise we regret it later in different types of realities, in insecurity. Clubs must be attended again with dedication, patience and lots of love...

The Grandmothers debuted in the ad with the "grandmother la la la la" that they made their own, moving from soccer to the most sensitive fiber of Argentines.

It's that everything is connected. I have no doubt that the Grandmothers respected the timing of the selection with the World Cup to make the announcement. That also has enormous value, which speaks of codes, of humanity. Joy is contagious, there is a wave of happiness that is enveloping us and we must take advantage of it. I haven't seen people like this in a long time.

And I thought it was nice to send it to Leo, I left him a message and every time I receive an answer from him he makes me feel like a son of a bitch, because he has a thousand things and he answers you, thanks you and a conversation is imposed.