Five months after winning the World Cup, Nicolás Otamendi, one of the historical members of the Argentine squad, recalled the Qatar World Cup, in which Lionel Scaloni's team touched the sky with their hands and gave the third star to the National Team.
"We were able to crown and it was historic. After the first game (the defeat with Saudi Arabia) some let go of our hand but that's part of football. We reversed that initial adverse situation, we made a great World Cup and we were fair champions, "said the defender in an interview with the digital radio of the Argentine Catholic University (UCA), within the framework of the program "Entretiempo".
Otamendi also revealed that he felt the same as many Argentines: "It was because of Messi. Everyone, whom you ask, most would have said that we win the Cup because Leo deserved it."
The 35-year-old central scorer, a strong performer in Qatar, is happy not only for the achievement, but also for what the Argentines feel. And he highlighted the effort that many made to accompany them. "If we know that people enjoy it, we will enjoy it more. We see through social networks the effort that people made to be able to be and travel. They were traveling around and they didn't have the tickets. We feel their support, we are aware of that," he said.
Otamendi, in a passage of the talk with journalism students on the Radio program, confessed what he felt hours before the final with France. "When I went to sleep the night before, I just realized that I was going to play a World Cup final, but the day of the game is when you have more adrenaline in your body."
Nicolas Otamendi is comfortable in Portugal and would remain at Benfica.Photo: REUTERS/Rodrigo Antunes
The former Vélez also expressed what was the main key to conquer the world championship. "The basis of winning a title, whether in the national team or club, is to have a good relationship with your teammates or group; Let everyone pull for the same side," he said.
Precisely, the defender is at the gates of a new consecration, this time with his team, Benfica, in the Portuguese League. This Sunday he drew 2-2 against Sporting Lisbon and the weekend could be crowned. "We are facing the possibility of being able to consecrate champions and we will try to give joy to ourselves and to the people of Benfica," he said.
In turn, he gave no clues about his future, since his head is still fully in the present. "At the moment I am focused on what Benfica is and since I arrived at the club I hope to be able to conquer the promised title with them because the previous seasons were not entirely good and then we will see what happens," he said.
And he preferred not to talk about River's interest in having him from July, although, as Clarín could know, the chances of the return materializing in the next book of passes are very few given that the Argentine defender would prefer to continue in Europe for a matter of life, beyond football. In turn, he received the recommendation of his representatives to continue at least one more year in the Old Continent, given that beyond the Benfica renewal proposal, there are also other offers going around.
Otamendi is happy in Portugal. He feels loved. And he even received a lot of affection from the Portuguese for the consecration in the World Cup. He even commented: "Once Portugal was left out of the World Cup, the majority wanted Argentina to win it."
Finally, he was consulted for his first World Cup experience, in South Africa 2010, where he was exposed by playing as a winger in the 0-4 against Germany in the quarterfinals. "When I was called up for my first World Cup, I went as a centre-back. I never played as a winger. I think I did two or three games in Reserve on the side. But when I debuted in the Primera in Vélez I played as a center back and I did my whole career like that," he said.
And, in this regard, he added: "If they tell you to play in the middle you will play; For my part I always tried to do it in the best possible way, but obviously it was not my position."