Eduardo Guerrero in a special interview: "People in Israel do not know what I am going through at all"

After a difficult season, Eduardo Guerrero opened.

For the first time, he talks about his father in prison ("he knows I'm fighting for life and family"), about Hapoel Jerusalem ("Ziv Arieh is special, that's how it is with coaches") and of course Maccabi Tel Aviv ("I believe everything will work out, I want to play with Eran Zehavi") .

Interview

Raanan Baranowski and Ofir Saar

12/05/2022

Thursday, May 12, 2022, 5:00 p.m.

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Summary of Hapoel Jerusalem's 0-1 victory over Maccabi Petah Tikva (Sport 1)

At 22, Eduardo Guerrero has figured out where the current season is going.

After last season, in which he burst into consciousness and was one of the prominent players in returning Maccabi Tel Aviv to the championship fight under Patrick Van Levon, this season he lost credit, won titles for entertainment and unprofessionalism and it all ended in one decision: loan him to Hapoel Jerusalem in January.

More on Walla!

"All along we believed that Ziv Arieh was the right man to keep us in the league"

To the full article

"People say things about me and do not understand who Eduardo Guerrero is" (Photo: Berni Ardov)

"It was not easy for me," he says in an interview, "these are two different clubs. All in all, I was already able to get to the place I wanted at Maccabi Tel Aviv last year, and suddenly a drop to other places. "Right now I am returning to Maccabi Tel Aviv and I hope everything will be fine."

"I came to Israel for tests at Maccabi in Guy Sarfati's team. I was not yet 18. It is very difficult for me to be in another country far from my family. Everything here is different, it is not like Panama. Where I lived in Panama life is very difficult, dangerous to walk on the street because of crime and can happen to you Something at every moment. I take care of my mother and sister both financially and personally, and I'm not quiet that they are there. In Israel I feel safe. My dream is to bring my mother and sister to Israel to be safe in all respects, but it did not work out. When I arrived at Maccabi Tel "This was the first time I went to Europe. I said, 'Wow, what a club, what conditions,' and I realized I had to do everything I could to move forward and help my family. And it's still the dream, to get a big contract and move forward, help the family and make sure safe.

The opening conditions of the family are very not simple.

For the first time he talks about one of the painful issues of his life, which he insists on not expanding on: "My father has been in prison for many years, it is difficult to be in this situation, because all the time I have to help my family and my father. He has something left like two more years. I try to keep in touch as much as possible, but it's very difficult to get him. The hours are different here and in Panama, and sometimes I have to stay up late to get him in jail. People in Israel do not know what I'm going through at all. "I usually talk about it, but too many people say things about me and do not understand who Eduardo Guerrero is, what he went through, what he goes through and how much he does for his family."

"Patrick Van Leven knew all the things I went through in life, he knew I needed the time to talk to my family and my father, he cared for me and he cared. Even when they talked about me he understood, he knew what was happening and explained to everyone who needed Maccabi Tel Aviv. He knew That I am fighting here for my life and that of my family. "

More on Walla!

• "All along we believed that Ziv Arieh was the right man to keep us in the league"

• "I was told 'do not stop until you get a character in a doll of the night'": Ziv Arieh's cult speech

• Natural and home treatment for knee pain - with reimbursement from the health insurance fund

We will return to Hapoel Jerusalem.

What was it like to deal with the struggles of decline?

"I was under a lot of pressure. I came from Maccabi Tel Aviv and everyone expects more from me, waiting for my big contribution from January when they brought me, but it's okay, it's part of the fun, to feel pressure, no matter if it is in a big or small team. In the last game against Maccabi Petah Tikva "When they scored a goal, I was in shock, I looked at the clock and said 'wow.'

"He's a very good coach. I liked his style and we connected. It suited me very well. We did not have much time together, but he was successful. He is definitely special, that's how it is with coaches. He coped well with the pressure of relegation struggles. I worked throughout my career with Coaches of all kinds, Van Leven and Raymond Atfeld are reminiscent of him in many ways in terms of style of play, so I knew what to do to get along with his method.We also had quite a few good players.I enjoyed collaborating with Guy Badash and our captain Goni Naor, William Agada an excellent player. The whole group received me with love and gave me a lot of confidence, the feelings were very good. "

"Shai Aharon contacted me. Of all the groups that wanted me, he was the only one who came, along with Uri Sheretzky, to meet me in person and it impressed me very much. He came from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv to meet with me, to talk about my and the group's situation and I felt welcome."

I said "wow, what a club, what conditions."

Eduardo dragged in Maccabi Tel Aviv (Photo: Berni Ardov)

Let's go back to Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Last year you scored a huge goal against Maccabi Petah Tikva in the final minutes and then another one and it seemed that Maccabi would win the championship, but it did not happen.

what went wrong?

"There was a game against Maccabi Haifa. We felt good and led 0: 2 and suddenly they equalized and just did not believe it was happening to us. We thought that if we win this game - we will win the championship, but that's how football is. In five minutes everything can go wrong for you. When I scored the same goal "Against Petah Tikva, even I did not believe it came in. I kicked and did not see the goal. Only when Dor Peretz started celebrating did I realize that it went in. It was an amazing feeling. Too bad we did not win the championship, but we fought until the last minute."

"I have no answers. It's just things that happen in football. A bad game leads to another bad game and that was our mistake and now I am no longer there, but Maccabi pays dearly and is far from the top."

"He gave me the opportunity in the Premier League and I love him very much. My relationship with him remained excellent. It's just the game. Sometimes you are up and sometimes down, but I still really appreciate him even though we parted ways. Maccabi is a huge club that has all the tools to win the championship "We started the season badly and the coach was replaced, but I believe that next season things will look different and work much better."

"I have a contract for another three years at Maccabi and I hope everything will work out and I can return. I moved to Jerusalem only for three months and I should return now. I totally expect this to happen, if I have the opportunity to be part of Maccabi next season, I would very much like to play with Eran Zehavi. We all know he is a huge player, so I wish I had this opportunity. "

"I feel like I'm now on the right path."

Eduardo Guerrero (Photo: Bernie Ardov)

What tip would you give to Eduardo Guerrero who landed here at 18?

"I would tell him to remember the goals for the oil he landed - to win the championship with Maccabi, to score goals and advance to the next stage, to a big team in Europe. I am a complex guy. I did not always do things at Maccabi properly, sometimes I did not do well I feel that I am now on the right path. I think I am a player who works hard. Even though I am only 22 years old I feel that what I achieve in Israel is quite a bit. Every day I improve my behavior, on and off the field and I think that is what will help I have to make the leap. "

"Cristiano Ronaldo".

"To move to Europe, to the highest level. Every day I work for it and I'm sure it will come soon."

"I will never forget my goal against Maccabi Haifa in Sami Ofer, in the debut."

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• Eduardo dragged

• Hapoel Jerusalem in football

• Maccabi Tel Aviv in football