With Isidro Romero Carbo as president of Barcelona Sporting Club, in 1990 the Canaries became the first Ecuadorian team to qualify for the Copa Libertadores final. The yellow fans are still moved by the memorable days starring Carlos Luis Morales, Jimmy Izquierdo, Mario Saralegui, Julio Guzmán, Marcelo Trobbiani, Manuel Uquillas, David Bravo, Luis Alberto Acosta, Carlos Muñoz and other players from a stellar squad led by the Argentine Miguel Angel Brindisi.
After the dramatic definition in penalties (8-7) that on Tuesday night gave the bullfighters the ticket to the second round of the preliminary round of the Cup, by beating Montevideo City Torque, and with Universitario de Deportes, from Peru , as the next opponent, Romero reappeared this Wednesday. The former director assures that he knows what Barcelona is missing to reach the final of the Libertadores 2022 and win the maximum continental title.
“You have to be champions of America, not national champions; champions of America. I remember that in 1989, without belittling anything, I said: ‘I’m tired of being a national champion. We are going to take a gigantic step and we are going to be champions of the Copa Libertadores in 1990″, declared Romero, who, however, could not be crowned on that occasion, when the award went to Olimpia from Paraguay (2-0 in Asunción, 1- 1 in Guayaquil).
‘Mentalize the player’
Today, the former leader recommends a formula to Carlos Alfaro Moreno, president of Barcelona: that he daily repeat to the team led by Fabián Bustos that they are going to be Cup champions. “When you mentalize the player and tell him from now on, and everyone On days, ‘we are going to be champions of the Americas, we have the opportunity’, these soccer players focus on obtaining the title, or at least they are going to fight for it. That must get into the head, heart and feeling of the Barcelona player”, according to Romero, interviewed on radio Huancavilca.
Romero told an anecdote from 32 years ago: “In 1990, when we reached the final and were runners-up, every time I got to the Monumental locker room I said to (Carlos Luis) Morales: ‘What are we going to be this year?’ . He would reply: ‘Champions of America, President.’ That is what you have to mentalize and always fight to be champions of America”.
‘The End Point’
Romero also affirms that his team has come close to winning the Libertadores, whose trophy also escaped the club in 1998, in finals lost against the Brazilian Vasco da Gama (under the presidency of Xavier Paulson).
“Barcelona is missing the final point, because in 2017 we reached the semifinal. At that time, (José Francisco) Cevallos was the president and the coach was (Guillermo) Almada. Then, in 2021, we were semi-finalists again with Alfaro (as president) and Bustos (as coach). But we have to reach the final of the Copa Libertadores!” Romero insisted. (D)
Source: Eluniverso
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