Duscher: “After joining Beckham, Manchester wanted to sign me”

Aldo Pedro Duscher (Gualjaina, Argentina, 1979) played for Deportivo between 2000 and 2007 and played for teams such as Newell’s, Sporting de Portugal, Racing or Sevilla. After training in the lower categories of Newell’s and Belgrano de Esquer, he is now in Deportivo's Juvenil B to complete his training and with a clear objective: to train in Europe.

How did the possibility of returning to A Coruña to work at Deportivo come up?

I had a meeting with Fernando Vidal and Albert Gil to talk about the possibility of doing internships at Deportivo in the UEFA Pro course. I have to do six months of practice at a Juvenil and they gave me the opportunity. I am very grateful. I wanted to do them there because I know the city, I go with my family and I knew they would be comfortable. I already have the title of coach of Argentina, but I also wanted UEFA to be able to train in Europe.

How is the experience with the Youth of Depor being?

I had already trained boys in Argentina at the Newell’s branch and it was a very good experience. I'm very comfortable at Depor, it's a club that I really appreciate. A pity the situation that he is having to live, a lot of sadness to see him there. I experienced very important things in the Depor and seeing where it is… is difficult.

It must have been a shock to see him go down to Second B …

It was hard for me to watch Second, so … It's very ugly. I have always considered that it is an admired and respected club in Spain and in the world. I lived a great time there.

And much of that time he lived together with Fran and Valerón, who are also now working at Deportivo.

Every day I have more relationship with Fran, who is in charge of all grassroots football and I am in the Youth. El Flaco trains in the mornings and we see each other little in the afternoons. We talk more about what there is now, about the players, the games … Of course there are always some memories, but basically we talk about what is now, which requires a lot of work.

The work with the quarry is not immediate, but do you see talent in Abegondo?

I am seeing that there are good talented players. Technically, I see kids that tomorrow they can play for Deportivo, but for that they have to understand the commitment, respect and love for this shirt. Once we all understand that, the club has a good chance of succeeding. You have to have that sense of belonging because there is material.

You felt quite the Depor shield, seven seasons specifically. What remains of that long stage?

One, participation in Champions. There were memorable matches such as the victory in Manchester, Juve, Milan in Riazor or the semi-final in Porto. Also the final won against Real Madrid at home in the Cup. They had everything ready and we snatched the title. They are indelible memories. They are things that remain there and that you even have more present as the situation is now.

On those Champions League nights there was one in which Beckham was injured after one of his innings and it was feared that he would not go to the 2002 World Cup. Did that day mark your career much?

At least they know me for that (laughs…). Seriously enough, it was an ugly situation. I always understood in a way my way of playing and facing matches. That situation occurred, yes, but what was generated was much more than what happened. But I don't think it hurt me. It may seem strange, but after that entry to Beckham Manchester wanted to sign me. It was an entrance without bad intention, it was football. Football is contact, I understand it that way.

At that time there was already talk that there were negotiations. Why didn't you go to Manchester?

Lendoiro was very difficult to negotiate and he defended the club a lot. I was playing for Depor, it was negotiated, but it didn't happen.

What he did experience after that entry was a complete siege from the English press, including his home.

Yes, in A Coruña there were no less than 20 English journalists. The phone could not cope. It was constant harassment, it wasn't pretty. But it was all a matter of the English press because I had already spoken with Beckham and everything was fine.

Where would that Deportivo be today?

I think taking Real Madrid and Barcelona out there. As football is, with a coach who would have demanded more of us without any doubt competing with the greatest.

Is demanding more in reference to Irureta? Do you think, like Djalminha, that that Depor was left without winning more for Jabo?

Now seen with the passage of time, being on the other side (coach), being later with more technicians … Irureta had a positive group leadership that avoided problems. But if we look at the tactical and physical part, it left me very little.

Why?

Well, after having great coaches like Marcelino or Pochettino, I think we could have gotten a lot more out of that Depor. Seeing the quality that there was then and the potential of the players, putting one or two more gears at Deportivo, nobody would have stopped it. That is how I see it now, that as a coach I analyze the tactical part more … But we must not detract from Irureta, he was there. He knew how to choose the teams very well, problems came when things went a bit wrong. I think that if those players had been better used we would have won a couple more leagues. I had Mauro Silva, Makaay, Valerón, Fran, Naybet… I think that by working more, with things that are done today, that team could give more, much more.

As of 2005 Depor began to lose steam. What memory do you have of leaving the club with Caparrós on the bench?

I completed the seven-year contract I had without any complaint from the president, who was Lendoiro at the time. With me he always behaved like a gentleman. In the sports part, after the glory, came the other. The club began to not be well, it was very difficult, almost unsustainable to maintain that. There was a huge staff. It was not only those who played, there were two footballers per position with a very high level. It was difficult to maintain that. There were many important players who left, a new coach arrived, Caparrós…. He had decisions that two or three old-school players didn't like, including me. I always gave everything for the shirt. I was able to renew and I did not. It was time for a change.

That change went to Racing de Santander. After seven years without scoring a goal in the League with Depor, he has been at Racing for five in a season …

(Laughter…) At Depor I played as a defensive central midfielder and didn't go up much to attack. My role was to balance and I had very few opportunities to climb; is what the coach asked me. At Racing I met Marcelino, who for me is one of the best coaches in Spain. I started playing double pivot, but with a mixed arrival. If I went up, my partner stayed and vice versa. I had more opportunities to reach the area and the goals appeared. Also, I scored two penalties. It was an impressive campaign and we almost got Racing into the Champions League.

A former teammate who left Deportivo a little before in those years was Scaloni, who is now Argentina's coach …

I saw him just over a year ago, in a Newell’s friendly with the Argentine team. Very happy for him. He is a young coach and wherever he is… He is in a difficult place, because training Argentina is not easy. I wish him well.

As an Argentine, how did you experience Maradona's death?

Diego's was a very big stick for everyone, imagine for the Argentines. He didn't look good anymore, but he never expected an ending so soon. He was still young and it would seem that Diego always had one more chance, he always got ahead. When the news came, it was shocking. For all the soccer fans, the captain, the leader we had, left us. What Diego made me feel, I have not felt again, and I was a boy. The goal against Brazil, the English … Those strong emotions that he transmitted, those joys … At least we know that he is at peace.

You were educated at Newell’s and trained there. What did you think of Messi's tribute with the shirt?

I played in all the lower divisions at Newell's, it gave me the opportunity to debut in First Division, I was a coach, my son is a fan of Newell's … For me, the fact that the two greatest in history have played with this shirt gives me a feeling and a very deep love. Seeing Leo with the shirt after the goal made me very happy.

Where do you think Messi will play next season?

I really like the Spanish League and I want him to stay at Barcelona for a long time. So we have it close and we can enjoy it. Lionel has given a lot to Spanish football and you have to appreciate that. You have to take advantage of having the best player in the world in your league. I hope it doesn't go away. Then there is his situation, how he is living all this, what happens at the club, with the coach, the people … As a fan, I would like Messi to finish his career at Barça.

Where does Duscher see himself in the future?

Football is always a surprise, they can call you from anywhere. I already have an armed working group and in South America I can lead anywhere. When I have the UEFA Pro card I can do it in Europe. My idea is to stay in Europe, but it really lived day to day. I am very comfortable in A Coruña and when these six months pass we will see.

Respecting Fernando Vázquez or Valerón who is directing the subsidiary, I suppose he will have thought about training Deportivo one day …

One always aspires to the best and to reach the top. You never know what can happen. If Depor extends his hand to me tomorrow, obviously I will be there. Or if Racing Santander or Sporting Lisbon does… I am very grateful to the clubs that gave me the opportunity to play. If you need me, I'll be there. I am grateful and in the clubs that I was I always went well.

And what is your proposal as a coach roughly?

It depends a lot on who you have, the level of the players and the club's own philosophy. I like balanced teams. I like to look more towards the horizon, if I have to play a heads up back, I play it. I like to risk, to try a colorful and attractive game. To achieve that I need a very important physical preparation. I like a leading team and I don't bind myself to any system. Modern football needs constant changes to surprise the opponent, both to attack and to defend.