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 HAPPINESS AFTER THE VICTORY
21 Aug 2008 -- Satisfaction at the club after Deportivo picked a new Teresa Herrera. Lotina is now convinced that his team can alternate the 5-2-2-1 with the 4-2-3-1, while the players were content with the win. Meanwhile Javier Aguirre is more worried about Atlético’s upcoming game in Champion League. Also, the latest about Manuel Pablo’s operation.
Miguel Ángel Lotina expressed his satisfaction after Deportivo picked its ninth straight Teresa Herrera “We are content for a lot of reasons. Firstly, we won the trophy. Later because the sensations in an individual sense were good. Also because people watched a good game”
Talking about the scheme on his formation, the Basque said Depor will alternate the 4-2-3-1 with the 5-2-2-1 “I have to think about it. The system with three central defenders has its advantages and issues. Today, playing with two, they felt fine, more united. We will manage the schemes during the season depending on the people we could have. At least we give the impression the squad could jump to the pitch with a sensation of security.”
Lotina also praised the level of Mista “We have quality people and there was a good relationship around Valerón, people feel comfortable playing alongside him. Talking about strikers, the good news is the performance of Mista. It will be hard for him since he has been out for two years, but he was perfect pushing and starting the attacks. I see it in that way, tough others may not. He missed a chance but it wasn’t so easy to score. For me he was excellent.” He also said that Pablo Álvarez had a “nice performance.”
What worries Depor’s coach is the problem suffered by Manuel Pablo “Firstly I want to see the situation. The doctors have an idea and we have to wait for the operation in order to decide. I am worried; no matter it could be a short term casualty. He was fine, hoping to continue. The ideal thing would be to have him as soon as possible.”
 Talking about the same subject, right-back Laure said he will try to help the squad “It’s a shame, especially since he’s a person that’s always helping me, but I will try to do a good job, always helping the squad in all the possible ways.”
Goalkeeper Dani Aranzubia was also content with the triumph “It seems this tournament is always a good thing for us, for me the first thing is this, but the most important fact is that the cup is staying here, in the city. The true is that the squad was fine, the first half has been very complete and we could even achieve a bigger result.”
Adrián López ‘Piscu’ was happy for the performance of the whole squad “I am leaving content, we made a good match and the fans were happy, I was feeling fine inside the pitch and it’s always important to receive the confidence of the coach in every match.”
Striker Mista was a little sad for all the missed occasions, but in a general sense, he was happy with his performance “The goal is resisting me, but this is the way to follow. I am leaving content in an individual and collective sense. The only problems were the missed occasions. In the penalty I was going to hit the ball with all my strength, but the pitch was a little soft.”
Meanwhile president Augusto César Lendoiro confirmed that he already reached an agreement with Maritimo Funchal for Taborda and Rodri, he said the amounts are already agreed and that the only thing left is to define the method of payment. But the president didn’t want to confirm if the club will look at the market in order to cover the absence of Manuel Pablo.
In Atlético, coach Javier Aguirre was saying his team was more worried about the upcoming challenge in the Champions League “To explain what happened is more difficult, because we leaked a goal when the game was just starting, when you supposedly are more focused, but this are normal errors in football. Although Depor was the deserved winner, they were the better side and I congratulate them for the trophy, but the true is that we have our mind in other place, in the game of the next week.”
THE OPERATON OF MANUEL PABLO
The Canarian right-back will be operated on this day from a toe cyst, it has been rumoured he will be out of action for two month, but all depends of the surgery. Doctor Rafael Arriaza explained the procedure “In the beginning, is a simple intervention. It’s all about giving freedom to the toe, so it can work without pain, but it’s an area that can annoy a lot since it’s used to support the body. It all depends on what’s the extent of the scar. The minimum time is six weeks. In fact, the normal thing would be two or three months.” |
 JUAN RODRIGUEZ: “WE WILL GO FOR THE GAME, YES OR YES”
21 Aug 2008 -- Midfielder Juan Rodríguez knows that Deportivo is facing a tough challenge on the next week in UEFA, but he knows the team can achieve a positive result in Croatia. He also analysed the first-leg played at the Riazor. For him the key is to score a goal.
Q: How did you see the first game with the Croatians from the inside? Because the feelings transmitted were not positive.
A: We knew it was going to be complicated, because they behaved as a team that runs a lot. Extremely defending and with the ideas very clear. From the first moment they covered the sides. They put a lot of men ob the centre and for that reason we didn’t have spaces and that’s also why we barely had chances to score. We worked very hard to have clear scoring opportunities. We had a few chances in set pieces, but through the combinative game, nothing.
Q: Will you be better on the next week?
A: And I hope the game will be more open. They will have to find the goal. For us, a draw with goals is enough and they need the victory. I think we will have more space and I hope it will be our game.
Q: You only missed the goal in the first game.
A: We dominated and we had more ball possession than them. The only thing missed was to score. They did a pretty good game in defence. We must admit this and give them the merit.
Q: Some people see the future very dark.
A: We only tied, we shouldn’t be dramatizing. Our goal still in zero, and that’s very important in a knockout round of two legs. Anything can happen. Neither people can be in panic. We did what we could in order to obtain a positive result, but they were flawless defensively and made their game.
Q: Do you still see the squad competing in UEFA?
A: Yes, of course. In a match anything can happen, and a goal in Croatia will be favourable to us, it would be very good for us. The team will give everything to continue in the competition.
Q: Maybe things have been taken too soon?
A: No, what happens is that you can not win all matches with big scores. We knew it was a team that would be difficult.
Q: You made a good job in midfield during the past game.
A: It’s my job to fulfill the dirty work. We must help the team in everything we can.
Q: Maybe too many tactical changes?
A: No, why? There was a last minute casualty, the one of Lafita and it was necessary to regulate a little the draw throughout the match. But the only thing in our mind is to achieve the win in Split, we will go for the game, yes or yes.
Q: How did you felt against Hajduk?
A: Except in the few minutes that I played as central defender, I fulfilled the same function. The team was trying to attack and I had to maintain the position.
Q: Are you afraid of the Croatian fans?
A: At this point, nothing can frighten us. We neither are starting from zero. There are people with experience and playing in a stadium where people is encouraging is beautiful. The same happens when a team comes to the Riazor. |
 REVIEW: DEPORTIVO 2 – ATLETICO MADRID 1 (TERESA HERRERA)
20 Aug 2008 -- A new triumph for Deportivo in the Teresa Herrera. The Galicians clinched their 9th consecutive trophy after a game with two faces. The first half was entertaining with both sides searching the victory, while the final part was boring and full of fouls. But the important thing is that both sides must obtain conclusions in order to face their European matches of the next week.
BEFORE THE GAME
The main news was that Manuel Pablo had a toe cyst, reason why he will be operated on Thursday. With Barragán out until December (knee), Laure will be the starting choice in the UEFA clash with Hajduk Split. For the moment Lotina gave the youngster a chance in this game. Another novelty was to see the return of Lopo after surpassing a knee problem. Sergio and Valerón were also returning to the starting eleven.
In Atlético Madrid, coach Javier Aguirre was using his starting squad mixed with some youngsters, including left-back Fernando de Abreu who started the encounter. Left winger Cedric and recent signing Assunçao were also starters. Up front, Aguirre chose to play with the trio Luis García-Diego Forlán-Sinama Pongolle.
FIRST HALF
Deportivo started strongly and dominated the actions during the first five minutes. Sergio was the first one having a chance, but he lost the ball against the defenders when he was ready to shot on target (3’). Later Pablo Álvarez was close to face Leo Franco one-on-one, but the referee whistled an offside position. And when Atlético was trying to react, Valerón fell down in the penalty zone after been fouled by Valera. It didn’t look like a clear penalty.
But Teixeira Vitienes whistled the penalty and Sergio scored the goal beating Leo Franco. Despite the early lead, Depor didn’t lose the spirit and the Galicians continued attacking. Two minutes after the goal, Depor was close to score again, this time after a cross from Pablo Álvarez that ended with Antonio Tomás firing over the crossbar. And Mista had his first chance of the night at minute 15, once again through a cross from Pablo Álvarez, but the shot of the ex-Atletico player was repealed by Leo Franco.
The first chance for the visitors came at minute 16, but Daniel Aranzubia demonstrated his skills in a double action: first catching a corner-kick from Luis García, one minute later the Basque keeper denied the equaliser when he stopped Sinama Pongolle in a one-to-one action, it was the first and lonely combination between the attacking trio at Atletico, because the play was started by Luis García and Forlán.
Things became more balanced in the following minutes, the ball spent more time in midfield and the occasions to score disappeared from the grass. Mainly because the ball wasn’t reaching Luis García, Forlán and Sinama, while Pablo Álvarez and Valerón were leading Depor’s attacks, but without too much depth.
But the excitement retuned soon, because Depor replied and once again it was Sergio who scored. The Catalan watched that Leo Franco was standing over the goal line and he sent shot that turned into a volley after hitting defender Abreu, Leo Franco didn’t have a chance. Two minutes later, Mista had a new clear chance to define the game. All started with a misunderstood between Leo Franco and Valera, then Pablo Álvarez stole the ball and the right winger made a pass to Mista who failed to score after his drilling shot was sent to the hands of Leo Franco.
Deportivo was near to solve the Teresa Herrera in the last minutes of the first half as a new penalty was awarded to the Galicians, this time it occurred after Pablo Ibañez handled a header of Verdú during a corner-kick of Filipe. But Mista wasted the chance as he slipped sending the ball over the crossbar. And just one minute later Atlético scored its goal after Fernando de Abreu headed inside the box a free-kick from Luis García.
Lotina’s squad reached half-time with the advantage in the score, the true is the Galicians were feeling really comfortable after talking an early lead. Atlético Madrid was always trying to push forward, reason why Depor faced a very different game compared to the one with Hajduk Split, because there were more spaces in midfield. Pablo Álvarez and Valerón were the most active players, Mista was also very incisive though he failed a penalty. The curious thing is that Depor passed to be near from a comfortable 3-0 to just leading 2-1 during the final two minutes of the half.
 SECOND HALF
Lotina made a substitution: he replaced Verdú with Juan Rodríguez, while Javier Aguirre made three modifications: Dominguez, Diego Costas and De Las Cuevas entered for Pablo Ibañez, Forlán and Luis Garcia. All the changes were made thinking of the European confrontations of the next week. As it happened in the first half, Depor was the side having the first chances to score.
At minute 52 Juan Rodríguez had an attempt to score after he was assisted by Pablo Álvarez, but the shot went directly to the hands of Leo Franco. One minute later Mista failed a new opportunity after he sent the ball over the crossbar, he received a pass from Filipe. Later Atlético was near to create danger as Sinama Pongolle was ready to face Aranzubia in a new one-to-one action, but Filipe cleared the ball (59’).
The match lost the pace at the middle of the second half. Firstly for the multiple changes -Javier Aguirre made five modifications within the first fifteen minutes of this part- situation that reduced the level of the Madrilenians. Later because both teams started to provoke the rival, a series of tough challenges between Sinama Pongolle, Piscu and Diego Costas ended whit this last one pushing Riki to the ground. As result he was sent off while Antonio Tomás was booked. Lotina took precaution measures and he replaced Antonio Tomás with Bodipo, this in order to avoid further problems.
With the game broken in small pieces and with several fouls occurring over the grass, Lotina took off Valerón. His place was taken by Rodri, defender already discarded by Lotina. In this way Deportivo lost its best man on the game. At minute 80, Antonio López had a chance through a free-kick, but he hit the barrier (80’). This was the last occasion on the game, the final ten minutes were boring and with both sides thinking of the challenges they will face on the next week. The surprising thing was to see Rodri performing as defensive midfielder alongside Juan Rodríguez, job he fulfilled really well.
AFTER THE GAME
Two different parts at the Riazor, the first half was entertaining, with both sides searching the goals. Depor was fortunate enough to take an early lead though it wasted the chance to end the half with a 3-0 score. But things changed in the second part as the actions became more violent. No clear occasions were created while referee Teixeira Vitienes had to show three yellow cards plus sending off Diego Costas.
But the game should be understood as an exam for both sides in order to face their real goals: Atlético Madrid searching the pass in Champions league and Depor in UEFA. Objectives they will try to concrete on the next week. Meanwhile, the conquer of the Teresa Herrera 2008 means the 16th trophy for the Galicians and the 9th straight occasion in which Depor wins the tournament.
MATCH STATISTICS
Deportivo: Aranzubia - Laure, Lopo, Adrián López ‘Piscu’, Filipe - Antonio Tomás (Bodipo 70’), Sergio - Pablo Álvarez, Valerón (Rodri 77’), Verdú (Juan Rodríguez 46’) - Mista (Riki 57’).
Atlético: Leo Franco - Antonio López, Valera, Pablo Ibáñez (Domínguez 46’), Abreu - Assunçao, Maniche (Cléber 57’), Cedric (Didi 53’), Luis García (Diego Costas 46’) - Forlán (De Las Cuevas 46’), Sinama Pongolle.
Goals: 1-0: (8’) Sergio (penalty), 2-0: (37’) Sergio, 2-1: (45’) De Abreu.
Referee: Teixeira Vitienes. He showed yellow card to Sinama Pongolle (65’), Antonio Tomás (69’), Assunçao (76’). Diego Costas was sent off (70’)
Venue: Riazor (10,000) |
 CRUZ AZUL 2 (5) – SPORTING GIJON 2 (4) (TERESA HERRERA)
20 Aug 2008 -- Mexican club Cruz Azul conquered the third place in the Teresa Herrera after coming back in the score against Primera recent comer Sporting de Gijón. The Mexicans were losing 0-2 ten minutes before the end, but they equalised the actions and achieved the final victory in the penalty series.
Both Cruz Azul and Sporting Gijón made several modifications compared to the squads that faced their first game in the tournament. The Asturians gave a chance to players like ex-Espanyol De Lucas and ex-Las Palmas Carmelo, while the Mexicans allowed the debut of keeper Alfonso Blanco and Mexican’s national player Miguel Sabah, this one was responsible for the goals.
Each half had a different owner. First it was Sporting who dominated the actions. Diego Camacho, De Lucas and specially Carmelo were dominating midfield. Camacho was the first one that had a chance after he took a free-kick that passed near the post, later Carmelo made a good move inside the box eluding two rivals before firing a shot that Blanco repealed.
Cruz Azul’s only clear chance during the first part was a long-distance shot of Edgar Andrade that went over the crossbar. The rest was a monologue of the Asturians. Barral and Camacho attempted from long-distance and later Carmelo scored the first goal of the match through a header after a cross of Sastre coming from the left wing. The first half ended with a 1-0 win for Sporting.
Thing changed for the second part as Cruz Azul was the superior side on the pitch, this occurred because coach Benjamin Galindo put his best attackers on the pitch: Pablo Zeballos, César Villaluz and Nicolás Vigneri. Besides Carmelo, the best man of Sporting, was replaced at half-time. The three leading man at Cruz Azul were the ones that allowed the reaction of Los Cementeros. First Zeballos was near to equalise the actions with a strong shot that passed near the post.
But when Cruz Azul was the better side, Sporting scored its second goal. The action was a set-piece taken by De Lucas and that Jorge sent to the back of the net. Before the goal, Emilio Hassam and Barral were sent off for a fight. This action affected Sporting since Barral is one of its best players.
Thing seemed defined, but Cruz Azul achieved the comeback in the final ten minutes. First César Villaluz took advantage of a lost ball inside the box to score the first goal for the Mexicans, and it the stoppage time it was Nicolás Vigneri who scored after Carrusca sent a cross to him. Therefore the third place was decided in the penalty round, Cruz Azul achieved the final victory after Andreu failed the first shot of the series.
MATCH STATISTICS
Cruz Azul: Blanco - Chávez (Domínguez 66’), Castro, Hassam, Lozano - Lugo (Villaluz 46’), Gutiérrez (Velasco 46’), Vela (Carrusca 66’), Andrade (Galván 86’) - Orozco (Zeballos 46’), Sabah (Vigneri 46’).
Sporting Gijón: Sergio - Sastre, Iván Hernández, Jorge, José Angel - Diego Camacho (Andreu 46’), De Lucas, Luis Morán (Pina 65’), Omar (Pedro 80’), Carmelo (Maldonado 46’) - Barral.
Goals: 0-1: (35’) Carmelo, 0-2: (66’) Jorge, 1-2: (80’) Villaluz, 2-2: (90+3’) Vigneri.
Penalties: Jaime Lozano, Zeballos, Carrusca, Vigneri and Villaluz scored for Cruz Azul. Pedro, De Lucas, Maldonado and Piña scored for Sporting. Andreu failed his shot.
Referee: Costas Soto. He showed yellow card to Carrusca (84’) Hassam and Barral were sent off (61’).
Venue: Riazor (500) |
 TABORDA NEAR TO MARITIMO, AOUATE LINKED WITH ZARAGOZA
20 Aug 2008 -- The transfer news of the day is linked with Sebastián Taborda, Depor Sport announced there’s a verbal agreement for the loan of the Uruguayan striker to Maritimo Funchal. Meanwhile, Zaragoza is now chasing Aouate and Fabricio after they failed to sign Valladolid’s Sergio Asenjo.
According to Depor Sport, president Lendoiro already reached a verbal agreement with Maritimo Funchal for the loan of Sebastián Taborda, Uruguayan striker that was already discarded by Lotina for the season 2008/2009. For the moment the Portuguese side would need to agreed with Taborda the details of the contract, while Maritimo still have to decide if they will pick too defender Rodri, other player discarded by Lotina and that was described as ‘interesting’ by the president of Maritimo, Carlos Pereira. Depor Sport also informs that FC Koln (Germany) and Calcio Catania (Italy) have shown interest in Taborda.
Meanwhile Zaragoza is again trying to sign a Depor’s player, this time they are chasing a goalkeeper after they failed to sign youngster Sergio Asenjo from Valladolid. It has been known that Agapito Iglesias –Zaragoza’s president- phoned Lendoiro a few weeks ago in order to negotiate for Fabricio, but the answer was a big no.
According to AS, now Zaragoza could intend to take advantage of the fact Fabricio still has an amateur contract at Depor. The buyout option of Fabricio is €10 million and he’s currently earning €17,000 per season. AS speculates that Zaragoza could negotiate with Fabricio better conditions and to cancel the contract of the keeper with the Galician side, but the same AS predicts it will be a complicate maneuver since it could end in a long case in court. Anyway, AS informs that Lendoiro is aware of the situation and that he’s ready to offer a professional contract to the keeper before to August 31, the current deal with Fabricio ends in 2010.
What seems more feasible is the incorporation of Dudu Aouate to Zaragoza, the Israeli is searching for a destiny and Los Maños were interested in a loan, but Lendoiro told them he wants to negotiate a final transfer. The agent of Aouate, Gustavo Crmko, told to Riazor.org that he’s aware of the interest, but that right now is a subject only managed by both clubs “Somehow the interest exists, but right now is a matter of the clubs, they haven’t talked with me yet. Personally I don’t know the interest from Zaragoza, just for what Lendoiro told me. Therefore right now is a matter of clubs. I believe it has to do with the cases of Lafita, Pablo Amo… I don’t know anything for now.”
Crmko also refused any possibility to cancel the contract with Deportivo as he said “Dudu still has two years. And the cancellation of the contract is something that don’t even Lendoiro thinks. It’s ridiculous to think we would want that, just when he has refused an offer for two million euro (Toulouse FC).” |
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