• Health: What is the prognosis for ALS, Coach Juan Carlos Unzué's illness?

When Juan Carlos Unzué entered the Camp Nou Auditorium, the first thing he did was merge into a hug with one of his life partners, Luis Enrique Martínez . Unzué, 53, a former goalkeeper and former coach, wanted to explain himself that he is a patient with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease of the motor system that causes progressive paralysis. It affects the nerve cells that control muscle movement, such as walking or talking. Without cure. "I never complained about the lot of good things that have happened to me so far in life. How am I going to complain about this?" He asked himself. And he raised his voice: "I can assure you that I am doing well. I am mentally strong to coexist with this very difficult disease."

Unzué has spent 35 years in football, first as goalkeeper for Osasuna, Barcelona or Seville, then as assistant coach for Frank Rijkaard, Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique, and also as head coach, at Numancia, Celta and Girona. It was the summer of a year ago, precisely while training the Girona team, when he received the first diagnosis, confirmed last February. "It is affecting my limbs, arms and legs, asymmetrically. There is no treatment or cure, except for some pills that I have taken since I was first diagnosed and that help slow down the progression of the disease." During that preseason with Girona, Unzué already began to encounter physical difficulties: "The right foot has lost strength and falls a little. I had to change the gait technique. It was obvious since I was lame. But I was not limited to Being a coach at that time. Today I already think differently. "

Unzué tried to explain the reason for the press conference. The reason for this vitalist message that he wanted to transmit in a room where he wanted Jarabe de Palo to sound, and where, in addition to Luis Enrique, he had the support of several family members, including his brother Eusebio , his former partner Guillermo Amor , and some of the members of the first Barcelona squad. "I had two very clear reasons to make it public. One of them broke a little bit this morning and it gives me a little bit of a shame," began the former coach, who saw how his illness was made public this morning by some media. "I am here because most of my friends and acquaintances to whom I have not been able to transmit face to face, I wanted them to find out by listening to me on the radio or seeing me on television, no other way. And that way they would stay calmer" , he said, to later affirm that he plans to get involved in obtaining resources to promote research into the disease through the Luzón Foundation.

"After these months I have been able to perceive the low visibility that ALS has in our country and the great difficulties for patients to live with dignity. Also the lack of resources, both private and especially public." Unzué, a vitalist and who did not lose his smile throughout his appearance, played with the metaphor: "My stage as a coach has ended. I am going to sign for a modest but very committed team, that of ALS patients. We are about 4,000 in this country. Every day we add three new faces. And we also lose three. "

Unzué spoke of all those vital references that he has been following during the development of the disease, such as the journalist and former soccer player Carlos Matallanas . "They have helped me a lot these months. And they have made clear to me something that I have felt for a long time, the great capacity that human beings have to adapt and overcome situations. And it has struck me that they are eager to continue living and enjoying despite the difficulties. Life is worth it even when things seem to be falling apart. "

Unzué recalled when he told Luis Enrique, the Spanish coach, who was sick with ALS: "When I passed it on to my friend Luis, we talked about how my condition as a professional athlete had helped me to take it better. To adapt and feel that this is part of life. Today you win, tomorrow you lose. If my state was depressed, I would understand, I would not be here with you. But I feel privileged. I have enjoyed this life a lot. And I am sure that the challenge that comes to me now will give me a lot of satisfaction. I will be able to help people who are also in difficulties. "

Dr. Mónica Povedano , who was the one who confirmed the diagnosis definitively, sitting on her right, spoke of the great lack of knowledge that still exists around ALS. "It is also not clear that there is a relationship between high intensity sport and the presence of a neurodegenerative disease. The influence of environmental factors, lifestyle, pollution, toxins is not clear ... There is nothing clear."

Unzué was reluctant to leave the room. An hour had passed and she continued to thank everyone who approached her for her signs of affection. "I feel truly privileged for the life I have had so far."

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