Rodrigo Schlegel was one of the Academy’s promises who took his talent abroad. Currently he stands out at Orlando City, where figures of the stature of Alexandre Pato and Pedro Gallese also shine
By
Fernando Taveiraftaveira@infobae.com
< /p>Rodrigo Schlegel during his time at Racing (REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian)
He was born in Remedios de Escalada, but grew up in Rafael Calzada. He took his first steps in football at Banfield, although at the age of Sixth Division he joined Racing to transfer his I dream of the property Tita Mattiussi.
His preparation was based on sacrifice and perseverance. Every day his father accompanied him on the train and the bondi so as not to miss any practice at the Academia . And in 2017 he got his award when Diego Cocca promoted him to the professional squad.
His debut took place under the interim role of < b>Juan Ramón Fleita, after the departure of the champion coach in 2014. A 2 to 2 in Rosarioagainst Newell’s and a 3 to 1 winover Gimnasia at the Cilindro were his first presentations with the albiceleste jersey. And in the era of Chacho Coudet also celebrated the last two titles won by the Avellaneda entity.
Rodrigo Schlegel is part of the Category 97 of Racing which produced figures of the stature of< b> Lautaro Martínez, the Facha Gutiérrez, the Monkey Manilla and Fernando Valenzuela, among others. He is currently entrenched in the defense of Orlando City of the MLS and his goals are focused on fighting for the championship in the United States, entering in European football and return to the club that formed him as a person.
—Are you aware that you lived through one of the best stages in Racing?
— Yes, I have no doubts. On that campus were Lisandro López, Gaby Arias, Leo Sigali and Nery Domínguez; who were always aware of the youngest. They were referents with whom I got along very well and I learned a lot from them. The same thing happened to me with Darío Cvitanich or Javi García. All of them showed me that they are extraordinary people with great careers and incredible validity. It was a great team that proved it with the two titles and very good games in international competitions. I had to play in the Copa Sudamericana and I was very calm to be next to them. Every day I learned something new, whether in training or in the locker room. Every once in a while I write to them to keep in touch, because they helped me a lot throughout my time at the club. They are people who crossed my life and contributed a lot to me. I have great memories of those people, and that’s why I understood how many years they played in Europe.
—Milito was also there, how was your relationship with him?< /b>
—With Diego I didn’t have that much relationship, because I was as Technical Secretary. She always went through the locker room and talked, but I was very respectful and didn’t want to get involved because his dialogues were with the greatest. I was 20 years old, without being a starter, I only dedicated myself to listening to those conversations. I only intervened when Leo Sigali, Skinny Donatti, Lucas Orban or Nery Domínguez made me participate. In addition, he knew that he was going to play when one of them was injured or suspended. It was a learning experience that I consider very important.
—And do you keep in touch with Lautaro Martínez?
—I lost track of the Toro, but he shows day by day that he is a great player. He is an animal that established himself in the National Team and I hope he does very well in the World Cup. Every once in a while he shot messages with Mono Mansilla or Fer Valenzuela, but with Lautaro we could never establish a friendship. It was all good, but we were just teammates.
< /p>The defender with goalkeeper Pedro Gallese in a duel against Montreal. Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
—You are currently established in the Orlando City of the MLS, what are your expectations in the United States?
—It is a long tournament of 34 dates in which we have as objective to qualify for the Playoffs and fight for the title. We had a good start to the season with our heads set on each game to continue growing.
—How is that dressing room loaded with international figures?
—Last year there was the Portuguese Nani and now we have established players like Pedro Gallese from Peru and Alexandre Pato from Brazil. There is also Facu Torres, who is a promise from Uruguay, and Jhegson Méndez, who qualified for the World Cup with Ecuador. It is a nice team with many South Americans who adapt to cultural diversity. We learn day by day to experience football in a different way. It’s the beauty of MLS, because you meet people from Asia, Oceania or Africa, who have a different lifestyle than what we’re used to.
—I imagine that in training you have to be careful not to injure Alexandre Pato when it’s your turn to mark him…
-It’s an animal. A great player He has a technique that he has never seen before. When he practices finishing he scores all the goals. Although last year he had a knee injury and couldn’t play much, this season he came back and is a very important piece for us. One enjoys seeing the quality of it up close… I used it on the PlayStation and now I have it as a companion (laughs). The same thing happens to me with Pedro Gallese, who is a goalkeeper.
—How is your relationship with your teammates off the pitch? Is there time to make friends?
—In general, Brazilians get together, and the rest of us South Americans who speak Spanish get together to eat barbecues. I became a close friend of the Uruguayan Mauricio Pereyra, because I spent the whole of last year with him. Since I was alone, he offered me to go live in his house with his family. He had an excellent relationship with his wife and his children. Today I consider him an older brother. It’s hard to be away from family, friends, and close people. Last year we also went through very hard times with my family and Mauri was very important company.
—Is the life of a lonely footballer abroad complicated?
“It’s complex. My girlfriend came at the same time as her, but she can only stay for 6 months because of the visa issue. She stayed for a while as a tourist, but then she had to go back. That is why links with the rest of the boys are important. In addition to Mauri, we also met with Andrés Perea, who is Colombian, Jhegson Méndez, and the Uruguayans who arrived: Facu Torres and César Araujo. It’s good because they are friendships that football leaves you with. In those barbecues we learn a lot because Gallese tells us about the World Cup in Russia or the Copa América.
—What are those private conversations like? What does Gallese tell them in private?
—He faced France in Russia, in a close match that ended up losing Peru 1-0 because of a detail. Although they had 2 or 3 chances to score a goal, he told us that the French played at a different speed. They had 3 more gears than them. That Mbappé World Cup was crazy, because he was unstoppable. Now when we share some mates and he tells me those things I can’t believe it. He is a guy who played against Matuidi, Pogba, Griezmann, Varane, Umtiti and all those beasts who were world champions. I also charge him because he had to put up with Messi and Neymar in the Qualifiers and the Copa América.
—And there are no burdens with the hairstyles he does?
—We drive him crazy (laughs). But in that sense he is very relaxed. He doesn’t care about anything, but he puts a lot of fantasy into his head.
— What was it like to replace it in a penalty shootout?
-It was in the 2020 Playoffs, during Orlando’s first game in that instance because the club had never qualified. I had to go into overtime as a right back. As Pedro had been reprimanded during the game, when he stepped forward to save a penalty, the referee gave him the second yellow card and sent him off. It was during the fourth execution and when I saw the technician I told him that he was willing to go to the goal. There was a lot of confusion, because the substitute goalkeeper entered, but according to the regulations he couldn’t, so I put on my gloves and cheered up. They kicked me three penalties: the first they did to me, the second I threw myself where the ball went, but it was also a goal… I got angry because I had touched it. And in the third I was able to stop it. It was crazy because we were able to pass the round.
—How were the celebrations in private? What did your classmates tell you?
-It was incredible. As soon as I entered the locker room they were all jumping… They grabbed me, threw water at me and carried me on a stretcher. Later in the week they would carry me and ask me to put on the gloves. The South Americans, who are the most jodones, told me that they had found the position for me. The guys from Racing also sent me messages. Chelo Díaz congratulated me and he also charged me telling me that the bow was my position. It was a nice experience.
< /p>Rodrigo Schlegel celebrates the penalty saved against New York City in the 2020 season. Photo: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
—Having the Colombian Óscar Pareja as a coach is more Spanish spoken in technical talks or do you have to adapt to English?
—The teacher gives two talks. Although the entire coaching staff is South American, because there are Argentines and Mexicans, there are players on the squad who do not speak Spanish.
—And how do you speak to each other on the pitch, what is the language of football like?
– There are keywords. At first I only spoke in Spanish, but later I learned and you are advising with terms so that they understand you. Since I arrived I go twice a week to English classes to continue growing. Since I was little my parents told me that I had to study the language, but they didn’t give a ball. Today I understand how important communication is, beyond football.
—In the MLS you also had to face international figures such as Douglas Costa, Xherdan Shaqiri or Chicharito Hernández, How is the demand against these rivals?
—One prepares all week knowing that you have to mark those beasts. You know the career that each one had and you have to be aware of everything because they play at a different speed. Both in the way of thinking about the game, and when they execute it. They are footballers who shone at Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Juventus”…
—And did you change the shirt of any of them?
—I asked for several players, but sometimes you can’t. I wanted to change Chicharito, but four other colleagues of mine had already asked him. During this time I kept one of Alexandre Pato, Pedro Gallese from Peru and Facu Torres from Uruguay. I changed rivals to Gonzalez Pirez from Miami, to Esequiel Barco from Atlanta and the lefty Bravo who was a teammate of mine in Banfield’s youth team. The reality is that I don’t change much, because I prefer to keep mine to give to my family, which is very large. It’s not like in Argentina where they give you two per game. Here there are 15 per year and you have to take care of them (laughs).
—What are your goals for the future? Do you think the MLS could be the leap to enter Europe?
—Every player has the goal of joining a European league. Especially for South Americans. It would be a beautiful possibility, but I see that for later, like the return to Argentina; because now I am very comfortable in the United States. The club was very good to me, last year I had a personal problem and they gave me great support. Also, they believed in me when I didn’t have many games at Racing and I will never forget that. My family taught me to be very grateful and I will always be with Orlando City for the opportunity they gave me. Like Racing, which won a part of my heart and many of my family members became fans of the Academy. It’s the club that shaped me as a player and as a person, so one day I hope I can return.