“Perhaps the long-awaited consecration in the Copa América could cover a little the importance that the Olympic Games should always have. It is true that the youth team had been working with Fernando Batista with a very important base, but he did not have enough support with players who would have further enhanced that walk, “said Christian Bassedas, who returned to Vélez as sports director, a position in which he achieved five titles between 2008 and 2014. Less than two weeks after his inauguration, he was already the protagonist of the management that made possible the return of Lucas Pratto and also functioned as an emotional injection for a team that came at the bottom of the table and without goals in favor. Those led by Mauricio Pellegrino added two wins and a draw since their presentation.
-Does the Argentine seedbed continue to have players who make a difference?
-There is always raw material, paddock and dribbling, but we must not underestimate another selection that does not have a history out there. It is no surprise that today you can compete as equals as Egypt or Australia did. It is thought that with the shirt you continue to win or that in football we are the best, but you have to prepare, evolve and study your rival more because everything is much more even. I’m not sure if the youth team had the absolute backing of the clubs by giving in to the players who make a difference.
-Vélez did it with Almada and Ortega, who were not against Barcelona in the Copa Libertadores. Argentinos with Fausto Vera, who was absent against River. But Boca not with Carlos Izquierdoz and River not with Julián Alvarez. Should the club or the national representative weigh more, even if it is youth?
-Being very sincere, even from the fan because I was not in office at that time, seeing Velez’s interests I think he was undoubtedly harmed. There were not two very important players and the team lost potential. After seven years of not being in the Libertadores, Barcelona in Ecuador was a possible key that could not be faced with all the weapons. Now, if there is a law that obliges all the clubs in AFA to yield, no one will be able to oppose it. The problem is that the interests of each club are at stake and it is chosen with more or less kindness. It is something that should be much clearer.
-What panorama did you find on your arrival in Vélez?
-I joined a leadership that takes three and a half years. From the outside, I have seen that many works have been done to improve the facilities, both in the sports center and in the Olympic Village. In sports, I think the team has been very competitive in the first semester, having scored a very good amount of points. Now there was a bad start to the championship, but we continue with clear possibilities to fight the objective that Pellegrino himself declared: to enter the Copa Libertadores again. We seek stability in the results to achieve the objective. The first thing I did was get together with Mauricio, see each other in the face, reconnect and walk together (27 years ago they were partners as players in obtaining the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup, among other successes).
-How is your work team composed? Could Sebastián Domínguez and Emiliano Papa, two former players of the club, join?
-As technical secretary is Alfredo Scianna. He trained with me and helps me to be the link with the amateur soccer coordinator, with the Reserve coaching staff and being close to the coaching staff of the minor divisions. There is also Lucas Dolabani, head of scouting and specialist in video analysis. I have a very good relationship with Domínguez and Papa, they love the institution very much and have defended it at a very high level. I do not rule out that at some point they will belong to our structure, but not in the near future. First, because Sebastián stands out as a journalist and Emiliano is still playing today, having had an extraordinary resurgence at the end of his career. Time to time.
-Do you consider Lucas Pratto the first achievement since your return?
-I think it’s a great achievement for Vélez. As soon as the possibility was given, we targeted him. We tried to seduce him with the best contract we could, but also by letting him know the mark he has left as a footballer. I would tell you that he is almost an idol and it is something encouraging for the fan. It even seems to me that he will be admired in the dressing room for what he means for our football, for his simplicity and simplicity. It is undoubtedly a figure that will make us more competitive. It is a first step, although in this present we have to think about the next game.
-How do you negotiate with players who want to make the leap when the economy does not allow it?
-I will be as clear as possible, you cannot negotiate with a player if he has a real chance from outside. Not only from Europe, the United States, Mexico and even large teams from nearby countries, taking into account how our currency is. Before that it becomes difficult. What it is about is being a serious club and having a say in what is offered: wearing the Vélez shirt always with ambition and obligation would tell you to fight important things. That has to do with glory and with the choice of a sports project. In this return I assume a great responsibility to anticipate the contracts that have expiration because today we have to start negotiating a year and a half before the contracts end.
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