Yesterday, the news came of the call by the coach of the Brazilian national team, Carlos Dunga, for the matches against Argentina and Japan, replacing the injured Marquinhos. An incredible joy for Juan Jesus, who returns to wear the shirt of the national team that he defended at the Olympics in London which ended with a bitter aftertaste with a silver medal after losing the final against Mexico. Interviewed by the Brazilian daily Estadao, Juan reveals how he learned of the call: “We had just returned from the trip to the Europa League, I knew nothing. At one point, a director of Inter called me and told me that I had been called by Dunga; I told him that the invitations are made in one piece, but he explained to me that Marquinhos was injured and then I said, ‘Ah, well …'”he laughs, explaining: “It is obviously not a good thing, because I know Marquinhos since he played at Roma, we often talked; I’m sorry that he was injured even though I am happy to return to the national team.”
Juan can share the experience with teammate Dodò: “When I told him that we would play together in Brazil he asked me if it was true, then we laughed and celebrated. But now there is a lot more important matches to think about, the one with the Fiorentina: I do not think about the Seleçao too much because we expect a direct confrontation, a very important game. I’m happy, but now I have to think about Fiorentina and then the national team.” Juan has always been a starter with Inter, was this the criteria for the choice of Dunga? “Anyone who knows me and follows me when I’m in Italy knows that I’ve always played at a good level. I am close to 100 appearances for Inter, it is gratifying for me to return to the national team thanks to what I’m doing at Inter. I work every day to be in shape, I do everything the coach asks me to do a great job tactically and physically and with each passing day I feel better and better. The call came thanks to the work I am doing here.”
Returning to Brazil, Juan explains his intentions: “I’ll try to take this opportunity as if it were the last. Because I was in the Mano Menezes national team in the Olympics, then when Felipe Scolari came I was not called anymore. But every time I found myself in the verdeoro group I have always shown my work, even though I was still only 20 years old. Now three years have passed, and I became a real player; many years in Europe have taught me so many things. Here at Inter I have grown a lot as a player, I will also be trying to be called even when Marquinhos becomes available. I will work as if it was my last chance to convince Dunga.”
But has Juan evolved as a defender in the sense that he is different from the one at Internacional that always was a little too tough on opponents? “I have never been someone that hurt people, the work of a defender, like it or not, is about you preventing the attacker from arriving into the penalty area. I got married this year, maybe this helped me to be more calm. Maybe in Porto Alegre I was a little overtaken by the pressure, but fortunately I moved and I am now also vice-captain of Inter as a 23 year old. I have this leadership in the group, I talk to everyone, including the leaders and the president. These three years have done me well, I definitely have grown a lot here in Europe.” And this growth is largely thanks to the coaches; “When I came here Claudio Ranieri, who now trains Greece, was here. Then I had Andrea Stramaccioni and now Walter Mazzarri. Each of them has taught me something, Stramaccioni was the coach who gave me the chance while Mazzarri is giving me continuity. He always tries to change players but I was always kept on the pitch, and I always played well. I thank everyone from Ranieri who found me, to Strama who gave me the chance, to Mazzarri who is letting me play constantly.”
But which of these coaches has been the most important for Juan? “They have all helped me, but Mazzarri teaches me how to defend very well, always shows the movements to do and positions to hold. I always say that I am fast and powerful, if I improve in some other details I will become perfect. It matters a lot to me, it gives me so much confidence.” On the pitch, however, Nemanja Vidic has arrived: “He is a player that transmits security to everyone, in addition to his experience. I’ve already played with Walter Samuel, a player who has won everything. And it is gratifying to have teammates who were champions of the world. I always try to apply their teachings.”
Finally, Juan explains the ambitions of Inter this season, after the quite difficult past years: “Like it or not, there always comes a time for a team to change. In 2010 Mourinho won everything with Inter, in 2011 Inter was close to the title, in 2012 we went wrong, and so also in 2013, but this year things seem to turn out well. We did few things on the transfer market, but players such as Dodò, Yann M’Vila, Gary Medel, Pablo Osvaldo, arrived and they were all players we were missing. We aspire to many things, because this team has come back strong. Even despite the defeat against Cagliari I think we can remain at the top in Serie A and Coppa Italia and fight for the Europa League. We as Roma and Juve? Juve have had the same group for three years, and a player like Andrea Pirlo who knows how to find his teammates with his eyes closed. Today they are both at a higher level, but when you go on the pitch we are 11 against 11 and when we play against them we will do everything to win.”
Source: fcinternews.it
