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Juan Antonio Pizzi (Santa Fe, Argentina, 1968) knew as few the scorer's job. Pichichi of the League with Tenerife, became part of the imaginary of Barcelona after that "macanudo" goal of 1997 against Atlético in a club that fought the nostalgia of Cruyffismo . In Valencia, already as a coach, he met that football tied to the business that came to stay. He won Barça at Camp Nou in the only league defeat at Tata Martino's house. He stayed within a minute of playing the final of the Europa League. But tycoon Peter Lim arrived in Valencia and made him his first victim. The last one was Marcelino, whose place will occupy Albert Celades, another former Barça player, this Saturday at the Barcelona stadium (9:00 pm, Movistar LaLiga). Pizzi, who reached the top conquering the Copa América with Chile, noticed all that after completing his training with San Lorenzo de Almagro, leader of the Argentine Super League and who has signed his best start in the last 12 years.

Were you surprised by Marcelino's dismissal? Yes, logically it was very surprising. I do not know the reasons. But I do know that Marcelino's work was very good. Internationally repositioned Valencia. I was doing a great job. I remember Albert Celades. It was one of the boys who were joining La Masia when I was in Barcelona. It had an impressive quality and an excellent game vision. He was a great professional and I have great respect and admiration. Despite being much younger than me, he also taught me many things. Soccer is a passion, but it can also become a condemnation. I think that those of us who love him will always enjoy it, regardless of the success we have afterwards. The passion we have for football since we were born never ends. It is never lost. But it is necessary to have a balance as to the meaning that it must have in our life. We cannot let football be our emotional support. That occupy places that occupy other things such as family, friends or other main affections of any human being. With 18 years he lost a kidney. His career may have changed. Think about it? I had a blow to the lumbar part that one of my kidneys burst. It was with Roberto Tito Bonano [also former Barcelona goalkeeper]. We both played then with Rosario Central. In one action we collided and the blow caused a rib to become embedded in the kidney. They ended up removing it. I was three months off. Maybe I was a little irresponsible, but I think it was the only way I had. He must be irresponsible to face that situation. I could also use another word. As bravery Like courage Actually, it was the ambition for wanting to be a footballer. He came to Barcelona just when he finished the Cruyff Dream Team. I was always an admirer of Johan. When contacts began to sign with Barca the coach was still Cruyff. The football idea that Barcelona had since he arrived was very seductive for any player. I would have liked to be with him and have learned many of the concepts he taught his players. Unfortunately, before I signed for Barca they stopped him and brought other coaches from whom I also learned a lot. Like Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal. Bobby, he was a lord. The treatment that all players had, whether we played a lot or not, was very respectful. He was very understanding. He understood very well that sometimes one was in a bad mood because he did not participate. And that gave you a lot of peace of mind. In the case of Van Gaal, he was undoubtedly one of the coaches I learned the most from a tactical level. Very meticulous I was in all the details. These are lessons I use today. With his San Lorenzo he claims an attractive style. Yes, but more than attractive, he must be attractive and effective. The players have to identify themselves. Enjoy. When that is the case, when they endorse a game idea and can carry it out, they feel happy. And that happiness is transmitted when playing. Even soccer players have more freshness when making decisions. I try to offer them that space where they can express themselves. As a footballer, he lived Ronaldo's time. We have lived in Messi times for more than a decade. Statistically, there is no soccer player comparable to Messi. It has surpassed everyone. There will be, or I don't think we will see, a player who can overcome his marks. There have been many top-level players, including Ronaldo himself, who are comparable for what they were. But the big difference is in the time when Messi has been able to sustain his great level. He has been like that for more than 10 years. Salvo Cristiano, who goes hand in hand with Leo, the others always, or for an injury, or for a change of equipment, or for poor performance, they could never stay more than three or four years at a This high level. Why Messi, unlike Maradona, never had a church in Argentina to worship him? The difference is that Leo left very small in Argentina. He never played in Argentine football. Then, people relate it much more with Barça or with a Spanish soccer player. To Maradona, the fact of having won a World Cup put him in a place where very few players can arrive. That identification, that idolatry of Argentina with Maradona, is unmatched. Even for Messi. Although nobody is going to overcome statistically the numbers that Leo has and that they consecrate him as the best in history.What do you think Maradona returns to train with Gymnastics and Fencing? For us it is a great joy. All my generation, who greatly admired Maradona, we always wish him well. That is happy. That is working. Now a very important and difficult challenge is presented to him, but hopefully it will help him to feel good and be happy. When you live the whole life of the goal, it should not be easy to get into a bench. They are two completely different professions. The only relationship is that we are within the bowels of football. But on the bench there is another degree of responsibility. Another degree of stress. On both sides you enjoy. But if they give me a choice, being a player doesn't change it for anything in the world. Score a goal is second to none.

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