The Brazilian defender Roger Ibañez goes to the pitch this Wednesday (31) to battle for his second consecutive European trophy for AS Roma. Last year, the team led by coach José Mourinho won the Conference League and, this time, has gone up another step.
The Europa League final match against Sevilla will be held in Budapest, Hungary.
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Before that, Ibañez talked to Sambafoot shortly before being called up once again to the Brazilian national team. He will join the group led by coach Ramon Menezes on June 12 for the friendly matches against Guinea (17th) and Senegal (20th).
“In terms of my career, I’ve already reached the National Team, but just getting there wasn’t my goal. My goal is to stay there. I’ve been working hard for that conquest. That’s what I try to do, to have a total focus here at Roma, work as hard as possible, be as prepared as possible so that, if a call-up happens, I’m ready to be there,” he said.
Check below the interview with Roger Ibañez.
This season went your guys’ way and now you’re deciding the Europa League. How was the planning?
The season we’re having so far is very rewarding. It’s an incredible thing to be in another European final two years in a row. We know it will be a very difficult game, against a very strong opponent. Like it or not, they are the Europa League record holders, so we know it will be very difficult, but we are working on it, working to recognize their team, to learn more about them and get on the field ready for that final. We go to the final to play everything possible.
Was it hard getting to the final?
Since the beginning of the year, it has been said, like it or not, we play in the Europa League and at the beginning we were almost at risk of being knocked out in the group stage. We had to play the playoff to keep alive, but as time went on, the competition became more concrete for us and we focused there, not leaving other competitions aside. But, now that we are in a final, we have to focus on it and this game will be very important for us.
Did you already speak Italian? How was the language issue?
No, I didn’t say anything. I only spoke Portuguese, basic English, but when I got here, in the first month, I took ten Italian classes and then I learned in the dressing room. Rafael Tolói, at Atalanta, helped me a lot, translated some things, others I understood more or less and from then on I learned Italian. Currently I look pretty good.
Roma and Brazilian players have an intimate history. Juan, Aldair, Toninho Cerezo, Cafu, Falcão… Have you talked to any of these idols?
Juan, I even played against him at Fluminense while he was at Flamengo, and Aldair, last summer, I spent a few days at the beach and I met him and we played footvolley together. An exceptional person. He hugged me, asked everything he had to ask, I asked him too, and whatever I needed I could call him. He’s a very exceptional guy here. No wonder he’s an idol of Roma and as a person he’s exceptional.
Did you get any specific advice from him?
There were several subjects (laughs). From a joke to a slightly more serious subject, but it was a very good conversation, it was possible to learn a lot. He’s a very relaxed guy, who can be taken as an example and I’m very grateful.
You already said that training in Italian football is very good for defenders. How’s the type of work done there?
Italian football makes you learn a lot about the defensive system, not only individually but as a team, so I’ve learned a lot since I arrived here. I was 18 or 19 years old, I was still a kid, but I learned a lot about movement, about position, about being positioned on the pitch, body position, ball, it’s a lot of things they teach you and you learn it in training, in a day more specific. In everyday life, if you manage to assimilate a lot, you can also learn a lot.
I would like you to talk a little about your relationship with Mourinho. What’s different about him?
It’s exceptional work. He’s a very special person. He knows how to handle each one. He’s a guy who works a lot mentally, talks to each player in the way he thinks is best possible, from the day he showed up until today he’s still the same person. He’s a very competitive guy, who always wants to win, so he doesn’t have much to say about himself. Just his expressions on the edge of the pitch says it all.
You are living another great season. What are your expectations for this call-up to the Brazilian national team?
I think the national team comes from everything you do within the club. If you remain at a high level, concentrated within the club, that comes as an achievement. That’s what I try to do, to have a total focus here at Roma, to work as hard as possible, to be as prepared as possible so that, if a call-up happens, I’m ready to be there.
