Julio Cesar Rosero doesn't beat around the bush: the Barcelona vs LDU Quito clasico doesn't exist. According to the Emperor, the most intense and passionate rivalry in Ecuadorian soccer is between Barcelona and Emelec, in the Clasico del Astillero.
The former Barcelona player stated this in an interview with EL UNIVERSO, where he talked about today's match (12:30), between the yellow and white teams at the stadium where Barcelona hasn't been able to win since 1997.
The 53-year-old from the capital, who has his own soccer school in Guayaquil, doesn't believe in curses. Rosero dismisses the comments made by Hernan Barcos, saying, "Those are things that don't matter, they're just to heat up the atmosphere," he said, the Ecuadorian monarch with the toreros in 1995 and 1997.
Also see: Hernan Barcos says that LDU Quito will make their home field count against Barcelona
What memories do you have of the first match between LDU Quito and Barcelona, at the Casa Blanca stadium?
There were good plays from both teams. We had a well-structured team. For them (the white team), it was a motivation to play in their new stadium. We tried to get a good result, but we didn't achieve it (2-0 defeat). However, that year the main objective wasn't to win in that scenario, but to become champions and in the end Barcelona was.
Why doesn't Barcelona win at LDU's stadium?
I think that fact gives weight to the match. Also, what people and the press say. The message is sent in some way that they have to win there, that Barcelona hasn't been able to defeat them, that smaller clubs have achieved it, etc. All these things have led to this fact (the lack of victories).
Do 21 years without victories put pressure on Barcelona?
Those of us who are professionals know what we're facing and it's due to football-related matters that we haven't succeeded. LDU's people think more about Barcelona not being able to beat them in Quito, but in Barcelona they are working and preparing for this match, which will surely be won by the team that does things in the best way possible.
In LDU, there are players who suggest that there is a great rivalry and that it has to do with the albos' international titles.
We all know that, in the country, the most important match for Barcelona is against Emelec and vice versa. Also, when we faced a team from Quito, the important game was against El Nacional. I know this because I had the opportunity to play with the military team and when we played against Barcelona, the stadium was full. When it was El Nacional against LDU, Atahualpa wasn't full. Then LDU had their own stadium, won titles, and gained more fans, but when there's a match with only their fans, they don't fill it.
So, it's not right for LDU fans to call the Barcelona-LDU match a classic?
No, because it isn't. It's an important match for both teams. We all know that here, the game that attracts the most attention, whether from fans, the media, or even people who don't know about soccer, will always be Barcelona vs Emelec, the Clasico del Astillero. It's important with LDU, but the feeling of the people is that it's just another duel in national soccer. And now, for Barcelona (today), it will have special relevance because they are looking to continue making a difference in the table.
What do you think about Hernan Barcos' comments about LDU's international successes before a match with Barcelona? Barcos didn't win the Copa Libertadores, which is LDU's most important international achievement.
That doesn't matter. That (LDU's international successes) is already part of history, it belongs to other generations who experienced it in their moment. What really matters is what will happen on Sunday (today). These statements are things that happen before a match and they give a bit of flavor, because of the importance of the game. But all of this stays off the field because the ones who will make a difference are the players who play the game, the ones who have an emotional mindset. The team that does things very well and makes the best decisions will succeed.
Barcelona is undefeated in high-altitude matches this season. Does that factor influence?
It doesn't influence. It all depends on the preparation done during the week's work, on the belief that you have a good team. With that, you can achieve success and have more opportunities to get good results. Barcelona now has a fairly strong team, but maybe there are deficiencies that the coach (Guillermo Almada) will have to correct. The most important thing here is knowing that you're going to face a team that, in recent years, has come back from bad results that were given to them, as is Liga (Q).
Do you think LDU strives more against Barcelona?
No, because all the teams in Ecuadorian soccer strive more when they face Barcelona. I know this from experience. I faced the toreros when I was in America, El Nacional, and Deportivo Quito. I felt that feeling from the directors, fans, and players because the mission was to win when we faced Barcelona.
Will Barcelona end the 'curse' at the azucenas' stadium today?
In soccer, there are no curses or anything like that. Barcelona wasn't able to do things well in previous tournaments because they had bad managers, bad (Ecuadorian) players, and mediocre foreign players. All of this surely influenced the fact that they didn't achieve results or championships. Things have changed now because they're working well. There's a board that is giving stability to the players. Let's hope it's a good match against LDU Quito and that Barcelona gets a good result. (D)