The Argentinian Nahuel Tenaglia He is one of the most outstanding players in the first third of the EA Sports LaLiga. Enrolled in the ranks of Deportivo Alavésa team he joined in 2022 from Talleres, has gained a permanent position in the axis of the Albiazul defense. He dreams of wearing his country’s albiceleste jacket and feels comfortable in hand-to-hand combat with forwards much bigger and heavier than him, whom he has put in serious trouble.
How are you in this position, which was not new for you, but it was new for Alavés?
I feel very good, happy to continue adding minutes. You always want to play in whatever position and today I have to play as a center back. I enjoy there with the confidence that ‘Chacho’ (Coudet) and my teammates have given me.
Is it very different when managing a match to change positions or do you take it the same?
I take it the same. It is different because as a winger you have to attack much more and as a center back you have to be very attentive to the forward.
Many times you have to fight with people much bigger and burlier than you.
I like it when you have world-class forwards. I like to measure myself as equals, whether they are taller, have more body than me, I like to measure myself against them. I also did it with Kike (García), he was a great teammate and on the field we fought a little, but they are football things and I also enjoy them.
Did you expect such an evolution when you left Talleres?
I don’t know if I expected it or not, but you work for it. Being in Talleres it was my dream to come play here and once I am here I try to grow every day, training by training. I feel very well, living a very nice moment so I hope I can continue growing much more.
During the pandemic he was close to the Argentine team. Do you think that the pandemic itself could have taken away any possibility?
The national team is my ultimate dream, but we know what the Argentine team is, it has just won the world champion, it has very good players, but one always dreams about that. I try to train every day and play every game to the maximum and if one day that opportunity comes, it is welcome.
Have you spoken with Joaquín Panichelli after his debut?
He deserves it without a doubt. He is a very good boy, very humble, who fought a lot. When he was here he suffered a very bad injury and we saw him every day how he trained, how he prepared to return. It was six months and it is a long time for a soccer player and today seeing where he is, even more so than I am Argentine, gives me goosebumps, because I know what he worked for. He had to go to Second. Nobody gave him anything and he deserves everything that is happening.
Many are surprised by Alavés’ position (10th)
We have been working very well. We haven’t been very good at away games, but at home we are doing very well. We have to take advantage of that dynamic of going out and hitting the table that would put us in a very nice situation. If we win in Girona we would be in the European area and for us it is very important. We know that there is a squad to do it but we have to go game by game, reinforce what we do at home, away from home and I believe that when we take that little step it will go very well for all of us.
How do you feel about having an Argentine coach like ‘Chacho’?
I really like how the training is. They remind me of when we were in Argentina, very dynamic, little rest time in the hour and a half training sessions, but always at the maximum and demanding yourself. I like that they demand of me, that they are constantly on top of me because ‘Chacho’ not only does that to me, but he does it to all his teammates and I believe that with that we are going to improve a lot.
Are you going to return to the right side?
I like to play as a center back, Jonny (Otto) on the side is doing very well. I didn’t know him well and every time I see him play I love it. Every time we give him the ball, he has a patience, an extra second that makes him a little special.
Has the FIFA sanction against Facundo Garcés affected you?
Yes because we know what kind of partner he is. He was another captain for all of us, because of what he showed in the locker room, on a day-to-day basis. From the moment he arrived we saw him running just waiting for the opportunity to train with us. We came, it was very cold and he was already training.
