Google translate works, kind of...

In Mar del Plata there were the childhood friends and the companions of the Cadetes Club, which he left when he was 11 thanks to a test that Juan Esnaider managed in the quarry of Real Madrid. With time, the rest of his family (parents, brothers, uncles, grandparents and cousins) also settled in Spain. The uprooting had no return for Emiliano Buendía (22 years old), who after passing through Getafe, Getafe B and Cultural Leonesa, last July gave a turn to his career. He joined Norwich, where he achieved the promotion to the Premier League, which Marcelo Bielsa continues to battle in front of Leeds , which today will play against Derby County the second semifinal of the Championship with the advantage of 1-0 of the first leg.

- Champion and promotion after 46 dates. Strenuous, like winning a marathon.

Nobody imagined that we were going to get the title, it was given earlier than planned, it was not a goal as primordial as for other bigger teams. It is a very tough category. Those who come down from the Premier League have a very good budget, keep players and invest a lot in hiring. Arman very competitive teams. At first we were behind the three that had descended (Swansea, Stoke and West Bromwich), from Aston Villa, who had played the play-offs from last season, and from Leeds, more since the arrival of Bielsa, who gave him a plus the tournament.

How were those two days of celebration? Something special, what surprised you?

We obtained the visitor's title, we celebrated it on the field. They gave us the trophy, they set the stage for us. The rival made us a corridor, very respectful, as they are here in general. That surprised me a lot. In Norwich we toured the city in a convertible bus, we went to the Town Hall, a couple of players talked from the balcony. I was surprised by the number of people, terrible, I did not know there were so many people in the city. On the way to the stadium, where there was a meal with the families of the squad, the affection of the fans was impressive. He enjoyed himself a lot.

- What balance do you make of your season and what differences did you find between the second division of Spain and the one of England?

I saw myself very well, I felt comfortable and I got an adaptation faster than I thought. I had the continuity and confidence that a soccer player needs. It was my best season in terms of goals (eight), assists and minutes. Of all the second European championships, England is the strongest, by difference, and also makes competition to the first of other countries.

- How was the adaptation to life in the city?

Well, although it's a totally different culture. Starting with the weather, which is colder and in the winter it gets dark earlier. At that time there is less social life on the street, especially to go out to eat at a restaurant, they close at six in the afternoon. Luckily, my girlfriend was able to come with the baby that was born in August in Madrid, where my partner is from. We made a more home life. The city is small, quiet, beautiful. It is to the East, two hours by car from London and 20, 30 minutes from the beach. I went to one of the beaches, I liked it for a weekend, but as soon as I mentioned it on the campus they told me that I had gone to the worst of all, that the best ones are farther north.

Do you stay to play the Premier League?

-Yes, I would love it, it will be a dream. I have a contract For my taste it is the best league in the world, the most competitive. And it will be a pleasure to do it in Norwich, for having promoted and the affection that people give us. It is a humble club, very familiar, people are super-close, they helped me from the beginning. The leaders do not want what happened to Fulham, who ascended, spent 100 million pounds and went down. Norwich has already said that he will not spend 100 million in the market. They are not going to do anything crazy with money.

How would you define yourself? Are you a half-tip, flyer with arrival, lane?

-Naturally, I always played more hook, behind the No. 9. I like to be in contact with the ball and associate. Professionally I played more overturned to the band, with tour and defensive help. But as soon as the team has the ball I try to go in the middle, participate in the game and give assists. I am a rather small player, I had to do a good physical preparation to adapt to the rhythm of the 90 minutes of the 46 dates.

- Bielsa must be envying you for these hours.

Yes, yes, obvious. Even Leeds has more obligations than us. I wish I had the same luck as me; It will be difficult because the teams that came to the play-offs are very good, they had a good level during the season. It's going to be complicated and nice to see.

- Leeds was one of the most offensive teams of the Championship, the one that most tried to play?

-Yes, I thought it was one of the strongest teams in the category. You realize that you are at a level above most. I should get to the final, like Aston Villa did.

How was the spy-gate case lived in the football environment and that he returned a goal?

-It attracts attention, not only here, in the whole world. In the playoffs he just had to play with Derby County, which he spied on, and that increased the curiosity. They live it as something new, although they knew it, now they realize how it really is. A crazy person for soccer. That he has returned the goal to me is a nice gesture, an example, proves his values.

The technician of Norwich (the German Daniel Farke) made some comment?

-With the theme of the spy, after Bielsa came out to publicly explain how his method was, studying between 40 and 50 previous matches of the opponent, our coach told us "good guys, then we have to look between 60 and 70 to overcome it " He commented it in jest, he took it as an anecdote.

What memory did you have of playing the U20 World Cup for Argentina in 2015?

Defending the Argentine shirt was one of the most beautiful things that happened to me. It was also a pride to play in the youth of Spain, a country I came to as a child and that allowed me and my family to grow, starting from scratch. It was nice, but with the Argentine shirt it represented a plus. When Humberto Grondona (the Sub 20 coach) called me and told me that he wanted to count on me, I did not think twice, I had decided to choose Argentina in case they took me into account. The World Cup is a thorn in the back, a disappointment with how the tournament took place (elimination in the first round).

From you left with 11 years to try your luck in Spanish football, was there ever you thought I miss a lot, I can not stand, I hit the back?

-No, unfortunately for my family, no. Since I was little I was clear that I wanted to play football. At age 11 I was given the possibility to go to Real Madrid, I did not look back at any time. What's more, they said " che, Emi, call your old people who must be missing you, they want to talk to you ". I told them "it 's okay, then I'll call you "; I only thought about playing football. Now that I'm a dad, I put myself in their place and say, " What the asshole I was, poor old people ." But hey, one was small and I considered that it was before the opportunity of my life.

- Is a matter pending to play in the first division of Argentine soccer?

-As a River fan, since he was a kid he said he wanted to play a super classic against Boca. I was lucky to be in the final of the Copa Libertadores at the Bernabéu. It just happened that I was going with colleagues from Norwich to spend a weekend in Madrid. It was a trip prepared two months in advance. And on top of that we had a reservation at the River Hotel itself. Insane, the planets lined up.

Posted By: DrDublin on May 16th 2019 at 12:43:24

Message Thread

Reply to Message

In order to add a post to the WotB Message Board you must be a registered WotB user.

If you are not yet registered then please visit the registration page. You should ensure that their browser is setup to accept cookies.

Log in