Edinson Cavani: "The only purpose of Uruguay in the Copa America is to win it"

 
Is in place he always wanted to be, but for he has fought since the beginning of his career, in the city of Salto. He went to Italy with a backpack full of illusions. After a passage in Palermo, he arrived in Napoli to become the master of the "Calcio". He lives the best moment of his career and on the horizon dreams about winning the Copa America. He is Edinson Cavani, the latest revelation of Uruguayan football and tender, alongside Diego Forlan, to take “Celeste” to the highest post in the continent after 16 years. All this you read in an exclusive conversation between www.ca2011.com with the most wanted scorer in the last days.


You will play your first Copa America. How does it feel?

The truth is that it is a very nice feeling playing with your team a tournament important as the Copa America. Thank God I was fortunate to play in the World Cup, which I enjoyed very much. We did well and now I hope to translate all the success in the field. Personally, I just care about doing my part, as usual, giving the maximum in every match. The idea is to get a good physical condition to achieve the goal which is none other than winning.

Since you talk about being champion, placing fourth in the World serves as a step before the rebirth of Uruguayan football?

Our secret in South Africa was that, thanks to the work we have a big game imposed by the ideology of "Master" Tabarez, who has given us great results. However, this has already been in the past and we have to keep working with it to continue among the top. We have great urge to do something great with the national team, mark a style, and this will depend on everyone, not just one. Uruguay has a very complete squad in all directions. We rely a lot on ourselves, and South Africa made us to reaffirm that we were going the right way.

Getting a little more on what will be the Copa America. What can you tell us about the Uruguayan group?

In actuality, I think this is already a classic. All the group matches we will be complicated. The level in South America is very high and everyone wants to make history. The clearest evidence is that in recent qualifiers finished in fifth and had to compete in the playoffs. I prefer to talk about Uruguay and what we have. It is a very strong team psychologically, and has grown enormously in football. It will not be easy for us but neither for them.

You were one of the revelations in the last World Cup, however, gained much experience lately. Which Cavani we will see in the Copa America?

You will see a Cavani a giving everything for each ball and letting his soul on the field. This is my style of play. We can win, lose or draw, but always doing our better. I am a little more mentally prepared, in the sense that we have a somewhat broader view of what I face and have added aspects of the game to my characteristics. My football comes also as the best, thanks to the amount of games I've been doing and the fact of being physically well, since I respond to the demands on the pitch.

Is there something special in the fact of the tournament being in Argentina, which has a great rivalry with Uruguay?

It is a country with passion for football, such as Uruguay. We live intensely and have understood as they that we are the greatest winners of the tournament, with 14 cups. It's special because Argentina wants to win at home, which makes it more appealing. Surely every game will be spectacular and each team will go with the best.

Your moment at Napoli is so extraordinary that the fans created a pizza with your name, sing several songs with your name every Sunday and raised you to be the successor of Diego Armando Maradona. With his goals, you led the team from southern Italy to fight for the title head to head with Milan and Inter, and relive those glorious late 1980s, which transformed the San Paolo on a football temple.

How do you explain your individual moment?

I'm living a dream in Napoli. Things went very well and beyond the expectations I had when I arrived early in the season. When an athlete comes to a team, always projects, but the reality surpassed all types of goal and this one is doing good things in the physical, football and many other issues more related to professionalism. I know this is not an accident but a result of the efforts that I've done since I decided to dedicate myself to football, and also, I need to focus on further growth and deepening in the situations that led me to reach that level.

Your great moment means that you are four goals of being the foreign top scorer in a season. How to deal with it?

The truth is that I didn’t know, but I am proud to have my name in the history of Calcio. There are still seven games and the reality is that you never know, there are matches I score three goals and others which I can’t even walk. I hope I reach that mark, because that will mean that the team did well and this is very good. I want to continue thinking in terms of the team, which I depend of.

How do you analyze the South American football?

I watch and I like very much. It's where I learned to play football, so I am interested in being attentive. I'm staying on the computer, reading the latest news about what is happening there, and often talk with friends who tell me the news on things sometimes I do not have access. It is no coincidence that in Europe many South Americans shine.

Already thinking of moving to a great team in the future? Do you feel you will be in Napoli for a long time?

I've always liked challenges, no doubt. I have a particular team that I want to play. My blood pressure will be whether to choose a team like Real Madrid or one of similar magnitude. I want to recognize me for the facts, not to have been part of Real Madrid, in this case. I like challenges, I'm ready for more, for this work I hope to keep myself always in a good level.

The interview comes to an end because his baby, Bautista, who was born on March 22, calls him with his cry. Edinson says goodbye because, for a moment, let the scorer personality and becomes the father, which no doubt is the role that most enjoy doing with his wife, Soledad.

Posted in: news