We got a chance to interview the legendary ex-midfielder Alejandro Brand, who was a star in Colombian football during the 1970’s defending the Millonarios Bogotá. Today, the 61 year old Brand shows a modern vision of the game with his intelligent arguments about the progress of Colombian football in the last decades.
He also has a degree in Economics and takes care of kids in his football academy trying to develop future players. Check the interview and learn more about the “futbol cafetero” (coffee football).
Q. After the generation from Valderrama, Asprilla and Rincón in 1990’s, Colombia never got to play an attractive football again. How do you analyse Colombian football?
A. At that time, the coach Francisco Maturana instilled a style of play perfectly into the way the Colombian player like to play football: short passes and triangulations, gradually getting close to the opposite goal. The change in the self-esteem from Colombian player began when Atletico Nacional team won the Copa Libertadores 89 playing only with colombian players, not one foreign player. Nobody believed that was possible, neither players, fans or sportswriters. But in this sport, sometimes theses phenomenons happens. It is difficult to maintain, sustain and keep moving forward. In that time, the Colombian football should have maintain the progress. That style of play should have passed to the next level: to a more practical football, less passes, more predictable surprises and offensive mindset.
Today the colombian football style is slow, with unnecessary passes before reaching the goal from opponent team and with many midfielders who do not get to score goals. Colombia is a team with good individual players, but collectively not play a good enough football. They play a football very strong in the physical point of view, but technically very poor.
Q. Many Colombian players did very well in the last season: Zapata and Armero (both from Udinese), Guarin and Falcao Garcia (both from FC Porto) and Rodallega (Wigan). Do you think colombian players are very well valued again?
A. Yes, especially Guarin and Falcao from FC Porto. They were surrounded by a team full of good players. Indeed the Colombian player is the true reflection of the environment where he grew up with vantages and shortcomings. They are brave players but as usual in our Colombian society, they don’t have knowledge about discipline. We are a conformist people.
Q. The Spanish football is living an amazing moment and they have the style of play with ball possession very high, the same style from Colombia in 90’s.
A. Barcelona play in the way that the coach Maturana did envisioned for Colombia in 1990’s. Simple passes, one or two touches to open spaces, with players changing positions in attack and from behind players who add to the offensive sector attacking the spaces between lines. In Barcelona team everyone scores goals; Dani Alves, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Villa and Messi. Here I hear the people saying that Colombia do not score goals because we don’t have good strikers. Every player needs to be decisive in the game, not only the strikers.
Q. Youth team academies around the world are giving preference to kids phisically strong instead of technically gifted young players. Here in Brazil some people are saying “If a talented midfielder like Zico (brazilian football star in 1980’s) were playing in present days he does not get be professional player because he didn’t have force”. How do you see this question?
A. The talented player without strength can be improved physically, then we will have a Messi, a Tevez, a Zico, an Iniesta, a Platini, a Romario. Without these kinds of football players the game would not have sense, they make the difference and disrupt the tactical rigidity. In my view, those who are saying that about Zico have not seen he play. You have to make a mix in a football team, there are positions where physical strength is essential: central defense, striker and goalkeeper.
Q. Who are the best colombian players all times?
A. Delio Gamboa and Alfonso Cañon in 1960’s, Victor Campáz and Willington Ortiz in 1970’s, Valderrama and Asprilla in 1990’s. In present times the striker Falcao Garcia from FC Porto looks like be the best player from the current generation.