Despite the absences of Javier and Miguel Novillo Astrada from the La Aguada BMW team, La Dolfina Dubai had to go all-out for victory in one of the semi-finals corresponding to the 118th Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo, presentado por Movistar.
With their 15-7 win, Cambiaso and his team-mates once again reached the final of the world's leading polo tournament. After the match, and in the middle of celebrations, LivingPolo.com was able to talk to the players.
LivingPolo.com: What did you think of the match:
Adolfo Cambiaso: We played well, it was all a bit locked up but we ended it well.
LP: Your team played better in the second half?
Adolfo Cambiaso: We improved a lot in the second half, but the mistakes were our fault because we attacked with few players.
LP: What did you most like about La Dolfina this afternoon?
Adolfo Cambiaso: The fact that we beat a very ordered team, and by a huge goal-margin.
LP: Do you prefer a certain team as a rival in the final.
Adolfo Cambiaso: I prefer Estancia Grande, so that Lolo (Castagnola) and Lucas (Monteverde) can win.
LP: What things did the team change for the second half, so as to accumulate such a goal difference?
Juan Martín Nero: We controlled the ball a bit more and we were hitting it more. At the beginning we played in a very classical way and we couldn't score, but later on we were able to.
LP: Do you prefer any team in special as a rival in the final?
Juan Martín Nero: It's the same for me, it's going to be a nice match, but I dont know whatll happen.
LP: In what conditions will your team be prior to the final?
Juan Martín Nero: We'll be alright, about 8 (out of 10).
LP: First aim executed: you're in the Palermo final
Pablo MacDonough: We're very happy to be in the final again, and with this new team. The fact is that this was one of our objectives, and the next one is to win, so I hope that will happen.
LP: What did you think of the match?
Pablo MacDonough: I think we managed alright. At the beginning everything was sort of locked up and we managed to unravel things and edge away from a team like La Aguada, that despite missing some of its usual players, always defends well.
LP: Why was the match so locked up?
Pablo MacDonough: They (La Aguada) were the ones that locked it up, as they defended very much and we couldn't score, we used to shoot from a long way away and the ball wouldn't go in, but in the end we began to score and we generated many more chances.
LP: From 1 to 10, how will your team be ready for the final?
Pablo MacDonough: I think we'll be 10 points. If we play a good match we have a lot of chances of winning. But anything can happen, the two teams that'll be playing the semi-final tomorrow (Ellerstina Etiqueta Negra and Estancia Grande Sancor Seguros) are two great teams.
LP: Do you prefer one of the other?
Pablo MacDonough: It's the same for me because you can't choose. I prefer La Dolfina to play well next Friday, that's my only aim.
LP: The horses still alright?
Pablo MacDonough: Yes, they're improving, so I think that for the final they're going to be 10 points.
LP: What's your analysis of the match?
Eduardo Novillo Astrada: It was tough, very tough. La Dolfina is a terrific team, they played well and we were a bit battered: we were missing some horses and players.
LP: How much did you feel the absences of Javier and Miguel?
Eduardo Novillo Astrada: Very much. They're two very good players, they played several times here, and this is the Palermo semi-final. Julio (Novillo Astrada) and Cubi (Ignacio Toccalino) played very well, but we called Julio only yesterday, after Javier woke up in pain and, well, it's just bad luck.
LP: What is your conclusion regarding La Aguada's 2011 season?
Eduardo Novillo Astrada: I think it was a very tough season for us. Injuries affected us a lot. On the other hand, we won the Copa de Oro with the Valiente squad, Nacho's (Novillo Astrada) team, but it was a very tough season for La Aguada, it wasn't good, we were missing some horses. It was a very tough season especially in what refers to bad luck.
LP: Will the La Aguada line-up remain the same next year?
Eduardo Novillo Astrada: No, I think we'll make a change with Alejandro (Novillo Astrada). We want to include him, we're very much wanting to give him a chance. We're looking at what we'll do, but it would be great fun to play with him in the team.
LP: Which team do you think will win the Abierto Argentino:
Eduardo Novillo Astrada: I'd say La Dolfina. When they change gear, you simply cant face them.
LP: It was a tough match, but your team resisted until half-time
Ignacio Novillo Astrada: The fact is that we resisted quite well. Later we missed some goals and they scored against us. And I think they edged away a little. On the field, we didn't feel much difference, we did all we could and there was no definite layout.
LP: Did the absences of Miguel and Julio weigh on the team?
Ignacio Novillo Astrada: They weighed on us because Julio had to come into the team and he didn't know the horses, and that changes things a lot. Even so, I think Cubi and Julito played a great game and we were playing against a team of 39 goals that has been playing well, they've just won at Hurlingham. I think that in general we did all we could, and well, I don't remember by how many goals we lost, but in the field things didn't feel so uneven.
LP: Can you offer a balance of what this season has been?
Ignacio Novillo Astrada: It's hard to do that because at Palermo we didn't start off with our usual line-up, and then we lost another of our usual players prior to the semi-final, so with two replacements, it's difficult to analyze things. I'm asking that some time the four of us can play together again.
LP: Who do you think can win the final?
Ignacio Novillo Astrada: I think it'll be La Dolfina, but it'll be close. I think it'll be between La Dolfina and Ellerstina, but you've got to play a final, and Ellerstina is also playing well. La Dolfina is a great team, they did not use their horses twice today.
