Only a few days are missing. From the 14 to the 20 in November, in Cascais, the XIII Edition of the World Championship will be played by National Teams. Thanks to the team of the Spanish Federation We will get to know more closely the rivals that our men's and women's national teams will have in their respective Group Stages… To begin with, nothing better than to do it with the host: Portugal.
Padel World Press .- They will be one of the opponents of the team led by Jon García Ariño in Group B of the Men's Draw. With the pressure and motivation to play at home, the members of the Portuguese team hope to bring out all their potential and is that, as it should be noted, several of its members are already common in the Previous (and in some other picture) Main) of the Tournament World Paddle Tour.
At the head of the Portuguese team is Juan Manuel Rodríguez, Argentine by birth but settled in Bilbao for several years. Ambitious and nonconformist, he dreams of taking his pupils to be among the four best teams in the world but he knows that it will not be easy ... And they will have to face Spain, Brazil (another of the favorites) and Germany, a team that will more season after season.
Do not miss this interview made by the FEP team.
How do you see your team facing this World Cup?
The truth is that the clubs are doing a great job and, thanks to that, we have some players who, for the most part, are competing in the World Paddle Tour Circuit. Of them, many advance in the Previous Rounds and, in some cases, they have even reached the Final Table. The level of the team is generally high and, under normal conditions, I think we could be among the four best teams in the world.
Speaking of objectives, after the draw you will have to play the classification with the Brazilian team… Do you think that by not having two of their best players, eliminating Brazil is something more feasible?
As I said before, in normal conditions we would be among the four best teams. Yes it is true that the draw has not favored us but well, we will have to try to go for all. Although the Brazilian team does not bring its two most important international players, it still has a very balanced block. They have players in WPT and those who are not as well known, still have a very high level, enough to advance rounds in tournaments of the Professional Circuit. On paper, they are favorites but depending on how the crosses fall, whatever the conditions in which they are played and other external aspects to take into account, we can match the balance even more.
Since when did you lead this team and how did you decide to embark on the company to train the Portuguese national team?
I live in Bilbao and it so happened that one of the players of the team also resides here. As of February of 2015 more or less, he began to train with me and already in August of that same year he recommended me to work with the Portuguese Federation. For me it is a very important professional challenge as well as a great satisfaction. Working conditions and the group I lead help make everything easier.
Is this, therefore, your first great challenge as a coach?
Yes, beyond the preparation that I have had during this year and something, in the end a World Cup is always a World Cup… Which will also have the incentive to be played at home. It is a date set for any athlete or coach since everyone wants to play a World Cup in the sport they practice.
How have you seen the evolution of the team and paddle in general in Portugal in the time you have been working for the Portuguese Federation?
When I began to soak up the Portuguese paddle, the first thing that surprised me was the good organization at the federative and amateur levels. There is a lot of work behind, there are many people employed in these tasks, with a very complete calendar. In addition, the work done by the Federation is very positive as they support players with various projects with which they help to fund travel and tournament expenses and other initiatives to promote paddle. That is something that is allowing a great evolution of the sport in Portugal. To get an idea, in 2014 the first WPT tournament was held in Portugal, and in that year the sporting results were not anything positive, with all the local players falling in the first rounds. However, today, previous rounds are already advancing, some reaching the last round before the Draw and even in this year's Lisbon Challenger a pair reached the second round of Final Draw, something that gives an idea of how it is growing the sport.
How do you think Portugal can be in a few years at the paddle level?
Well, it is complicated to make predictions. I believe that the way to grow and go equaling with the world powers such as Spain or Argentina, is to carry out a very strong base work, in which young people are incorporated into this sport. Also, if you continue the evolution of the players who are competing at the professional level right now, those who still have 5 at least a year, I think we can see them in the Final Draw in a very short time more or less usual.
From the 11 to the November 13 you will play a friendly against the Spanish National Team Sub'18. I suppose it will be a good touchstone to check the level with which you reach the World Cup?
It was a little coincidence. We had planned a rally four days before the World Cup and the Federation contacted me to play that Saturday. It's fantastic because, in the program of concentration and preparation for the Championship, we have those friendlies to try couples and make a good set-up. In addition, by holding these meetings in Cascais, we can test in situ the conditions of the slopes and the club where the competition will be played.
How is an important event like this happening in Portugal, taking into account that it is the first time it is organized?
Regarding the organization, what is coming to me through social networks and by voice, I think it will be very good. Keep in mind that it is a Federation used to organizing top-level events in the world of tennis. If we talk about the predisposition of people at the public level, I can say that in the tournaments in which I have coincided, establishing the Lisbon Challenger as a mirror in which to look at oneself, it has always been very good ... And I am convinced that a World Cup is not going to be an exception.
Leaving a little imagination fly, how would it be for you to be second in the group and cross in a hypothetical semi-final with Argentina, your native country?
Well, it would be a very special match, just like Spain's in the Group Stage. The physical trainers of the Argentine National Team were my trainers when I was a player and I know many of the team members. These are two games that my boys would love to play and that every paddle tennis player dreams of… And it is always a pleasure to face the best and learn from them.
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