One of Vélez’s promises gave an interview to GOAL in which he talks about his football journey.
Despite his young 19 years, Valentin Gomez He has already experienced several events in the world of football. He made his debut on February 4 in Vélez’s 2-0 defeat to Huracán and from there he continued to grow: he was a semi-finalist in the Copa Libertadores, one of last season’s revelation players and currently he is emerging as one of the biggest promises of Argentines to emigrate to Europe.
The defender of Velezano granted an interview GOAL where he emphasizes his path to the present:
You arrived in Vélez when you were ten, didn’t you?
Yes, I came to the club when I was ten, Coio Almandoz brought me, a friend of the family and world champion in Vélez. He would see me play the baby, he always told me to come and try Vélez. One day I listened to him and that’s where I started.
Always in the same position?
I started playing left center, Marcelo Bravo put me on 3 (left side) in ninth and I did all the inferior games until seventh – the pandemic just came – and when I returned to Reserve I was center again. I feel very comfortable as a central defender, last year I got used to playing in that position, also in reserve with Julio Vaccari.
What is the secret, what does Vélez offer the boys so that they come out so well?
The secret is that it always has really good people in all categories, people who help you grow, become a better person and player. I think the secret is more on that side. They also help us from childhood, it’s a whole process. We in the 2003 category always played more or less the same, we already did it from memory and that makes everything easier.
Is it better or worse that so many young people go upstairs at the same time?
As long as both the boys and the coaching staff know how to handle it, and with everyone’s help, I think the club is doing well because we have very good players in Reserves and below.
Your debut was with Huracán, in 2022. How was the feeling?
It was a very nice feeling, something I’ve dreamed of all my life. Ever since I played football at the age of four, I dreamed of making my debut in the First Division, especially at a club like Vélez.
What were Pellegrino’s words at the time?
That I play calmly, that I trust myself, that I had the ability to do well. That relies on my qualities, on my companions.
How do you see the Valentine of then and today?
With a bit more experience, maybe before I went in a bit nervous to play my first games, but now I feel calmer.
Did you have to technically polish something?
There is a big change. Not only technically, but also the speed of passes, the physical, the mental speed. It’s a big change that I was happy to deal with. Of course there are things that need to be polished every day.
You emphasize your aggressiveness, what would aggressiveness be when playing football?
Aggression is like Cuti, Licha and Otamendi. Go take the ball away, don’t wait so much, go ahead, play one-on-one with the striker. I like that.
At what times do you choose them?
It depends, each move requires a different move, a different thought from the previous one. I try to be focused to know when to go and try to win. You have to be alert, especially when you are at the center of an Argentinian football match that you cannot reveal anything, if you are distracted for a moment, you pay a high price.
The attackers here are tricky…
The attackers have their qualities, their tricks. Especially the bigger ones. The one that cost me the most? (Emanuel) Gigliotti in the Copa Libertadores match, mainly because of the experience he had, knew how to position his body in such a way that he did not anticipate it. It was a nice duel.
Is your idol still Sergio Ramos or has he changed?
Yes, today I also have a lot of admiration for Lisandro (Martínez). It seems to me one of the best in the world along with Cuti.
What does a central defender need to be elite?
He must win as many duels as possible, both in the air and on the ground. He must be able to release the ball well and try to convey calmness to the team when necessary.
Do you think being left-handed is for you?
Yes, I’d venture to say there aren’t many left-footed centre-backs in the country and that could be a quality.
The Copa Libertadores was a game where you did very well, what it was like to play it.
Obviously the first dream is to debut and the second is to play in the Copa Libertadores on a Wednesday night. So a wonderful feeling. I never thought I would play in the Copa Libertadores let alone make it to the semi-finals.
The series against River was incredible…
We took it easy, we knew if we did what we practiced with the Cacique during the week it would get us results, and it did. I think the game at Amalfitani was meant to end with a bigger difference. Later in the Monumental, of course, you will occasionally suffer, but we will move it forward.
What was your job in particular?
We worked a lot on the swing from the line, were short with the midfielders, didn’t allow the filtered passes from Enzo to Julián, or from Casco to the middle. We try to cover the spaces as well as possible.
Another game that we unfortunately remember is the 4-0 against Flamengo. What was it like to monitor such a flexible team?
A very difficult race, not only technically but also mentally and physically. We had trained him, but the rival plays, has virtues and it was difficult for us. The wineries closed, the prisoners opened, they dragged the mark across the field… It was very difficult.
Gareca arrived. How was the first contact with him?
The first thing he said was that we trust ourselves, that we create a positive energy in the team, which came from before, but we strengthen ourselves in that more. That we don’t play so much first, that we try to associate a little more and attack all the time. The attack is the base.
The South American did not go as expected. What teaching has elimination left you?
That you can’t give anything away at all, and that you no longer win with the shirt, but have to play the games. It was a very big disappointment, we had hopes to play at the World Cup half way through the year and not to do that is a very sad thing.
Source: Goal