Argentina - Interviews
Facundo Pieres: "We'll try to play the final without losing concentration and with rhythm"
Ellerstina's top scorer already thinking of the decisive match against La Dolfina, at Palermo
Foto: Ramón Casares, www.ramoncasares.net
Less than 10 minutes after having got off their horses, the Ellerstina players were sweaty and still a bit agitated. The win against Estancia Grande Sancor Seguros had minutes ago secured for them a place in yet another final at Palermo, once again against La Dolfina Dubai. Their happiness was clear to see.
In an exclusive interview with LivingPolo.com, the team's players spoke about the match and how they now await the final.
LivingPolo.com: A hard-fought match, but you won it.
Nicolás Pieres: We could've won it but it was a semi-final; we knew it would very tough.
Facundo Pieres: We won with a four-goal advantage against a very good team, so I'm very happy about that, and because we're again in the final.
Ignacio Heguy: We played well, but it was tough. Estancia Grande is a very good team. We perhaps stalled a bit in the middle of the match, just a bit, but they play well.
LP: Things were a bit more locked up compared to with how you people had been playing
Nicolás Pieres: We tried to play in an open way, but they play a lot more closed up, so in a way you start playing like they do, but we tried to move forward at all times. They're four terrific players and this was a very tough match.
Facundo Pieres: The strategy of Estancia Grande was, at times, to slow us down a bit, and at times it is hard to get the other team to stop the ball for you, but when we got some rhythm into things, we had some nice and open moves. We eked out a nice advantage at the beginning and that made a difference.
Ignacio Heguy: We played well when we were able to hit the ball, and that is the type of game our team likes.
LP: Another final at Palermo ow looms ahead against La Dolfina. How do you imagine that?
Nicolás Pieres: I still can't quite believe it. I suppose that during this week I'll begin to realize that this will be my first Palermo final. I imagine us winning it, but they're a very tough rival.
Facundo Pieres: It's going to be spectacular, very tough, and I hope it'll favour us. In the other matches against them, when we were even with them, we lost concentration, and when they got closer, that was when the team played best. We'll try to play the final without losing concentration and with rhythm.
Ignacio Heguy: Difficult. They're playing very well, and so are we. I think it'll be a great final.
