Jared Borgetti

By SANDRA VELÁZQUEZ / Vida En El Valle
(Published Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 08:51AM)

FRESNO -- Along with Jesús 'El Cabrito' (The Little Goat) Arellano, Jared Borgetti is one of the major veteran players with Monterrey for the upcoming Apertura Tournament.

And even though his play in Fresno was not a complete victory, the re-introduction of defender Felipe Baloy (who did not originally travel with the club to the United States because he demanded a renegotiation of his contract), things are under control for Borgetti.

Everything was taken care of and Baloy arrived a few hours before the friendly match against Morelia. Monterrey lost 3-2 in penalty kicks after the teams battled to a 2-2 tie in regulation at Chukchansi Park before an estimated crowd of more than 7,000 last Wednesday.

After a not-so-sparkling 2007 season with Cruz Azul, Borgetti recaptured his scoring touch in the 2008 Clausura Tournament and led Monterrey to the semifinals, where it was eliminated by Santos.

"We ended the last tournament well, thanks to God," said Borgetti. "Things picked up little by little. We managed to finish on a good note and closed well. We helped the team in various ways, not only with goals but with our appearance on the field, with determination, with desire, with soccer, with joy."

At 35 years of age, the so-called 'Zorro del Desierto' (Desert Fox) wants to continue that rhythm "of being one solid line," he told Vida en el Valle.

About his physical care and his work methods to conserve his physical condition, Borgetti talks with satisfaction: "My career has been very clean in that sense. I have not suffered many injuries, which is a great advantage. I have no problem with my weight ... That helps me a lot in trying to recuperate as quickly as possible, not having any setbacks in that regard."

The key, he explained, is to "always try to work at an even pace, which is the only way it will help me be in the best condition."

It was precisely his surprising play in the Mexican tournament playoffs that earned him a spot on the Mexican national team during Jesús Ramírez's tenure. It was there that Borgetti, a specialist in headers, said he absorbed a lot from the younger players who were named to El Tri.

It was good and positive "getting energy from all the boys with all the hopes they have of life and soccer," said Borgetti. "One should try to get covered by that energy they radiate and try to get it."

Borgetti said he shared time with some of the players who participated in the Olympic qualifying tournament where the Hugo Sánchez-led squad was eliminated. He said it will be a matter of time for them to learn from that failure.

"Inside the main national team, there are many demands," he said. "Then, they should have learned from that bad experience so that it won't repeat itself on the main team."

Being the leading scorer on the Mexican national team with 46 goals, Borgetti said scoring a World Cup goal "is something very special, and, more than anything, it depends on the moment, the situation, the rival. All of that has something to do with it being memorable."

Borgetti added he couldn't refute the fact that one of his favorite goals was the one he scored against Italy in World Cup Korea-Japan 2002. "It is the one that more defines you and that people remember the most," he said. "And, also because of what it signifies, it is something, hopefully, that many Mexicans desire and get."

With Monterrey, Borgetti said he "will try to keep making goals. I think that is an important step for me to do, keep growing in my personal career and leaving behind something beautiful ... to say that Jared Borgetti was here."

La Volpe: More calm than ever

Someone else who is an old man very well known to Borgetti is his Monterrey coach, Argentina's Ricardo Antonio La Volpe. The veteran strategist gained fame with his bad temper and behavior as Mexican national team coach. During World Cup Germany 2006, he took the lead role in spraying water on a group of reporters.

When La Volpe left the Tri, he took over the coaching duties of Argentina's Boca Juniors but was not able to get a much-desired national championship. He then returned to México to take over the Rayados.

Since his return from Argentina, La Volpe has been more measured, more relaxed, about which Vida en el Valle inquired: "Age, age ... there is nothing else. In seriousness, the experience ... the age. The four years on the national team. (Much to learn?). Yes," he answered with a certain surprise at the observation.

Was it a challenge?

"Yes. It was four years and done. But it was strong and I believe I learned plenty. There was criticism. There were good things. And, we kept learning."

Send e-mail to: svelazquez@vidaenelvalle.com