Sambueza: We’re hungry for glory - FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP
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Memories of Claudio El Piojo (The Louse) Lopez clinching America’s tenth Mexican league title on 29 May 2005 had become a little hazy by the time Ricardo Pelaez took over as the club president six and a half years later. That Lopez-inspired championship win had put Las Águilas level with Guadalajara as the country’s most successful club, but in the years that followed America looked on powerless as title after title evaded their grasp, with Chivas pulling clear again with their 11th championship win and Toluca joining them on ten.
A member of the Mexico squad that appeared at the 1998 FIFA World Cup France™, Pelaez arrived in the job determined to restore America’s wounded pride and put them back on top. Taking up the reins just before the 2012 Clausura, he appointed another Piojo in Miguel Herrera as coach and set about overhauling the team.
One of the new faces to come into the side was the Argentinian Rubens Sambueza, who has since become club captain and an icon of an America team that has, over the last four years, reasserted itself as the pre-eminent force in Mexican football. About to lead Las Águilas out at the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2015, the 31-year-old creative midfielder spoke exclusively to FIFA.com.
From one Louse to another
The newly installed Herrera quickly banished memories of the instability of previous years. After steering America to the play-off semi-finals in his first two championship campaigns, he guided them to the title in his third, the 2013 Clausura. Though Herrera then moved on to coach the national team, the seeds of future success had been sown. After defeat to Leon in the following season’s final, Las Águilas eventually landed their twelfth title to move clear of the pack, the prelude to international glory and the 2014/15 CONCACAF Champions League title.
“America were major players on the domestic scene and in becoming the Concachampions we’ve managed to achieve success abroad too. We’ll be going to Japan determined to give it our very best shot,” commented Sambueza, looking ahead to the upcoming Club World Cup, where he and his team-mates will be representing the northern half of the Americas.
Contemplating that prospect, the talented left-footed midfielder, who was born in the Patagonian city of Zapala and stands 5’9 tall, said: “I’m very happy to be playing in such a prestigious tournament for the first time. The team is feeling good and we’re all determined to put in a great performance.”
"The dream is to make the final and win it. This team has a real hunger for glory and we want to make history."
Rubens Sambueza, Club America captain
That said, Mexican representatives have not always excelled themselves in the competition, with the semi-finals proving a continual stumbling block for Azteca sides. Intent on seeing America clear that hurdle and reach the final, the skipper said: “It’s often been the case that teams don’t reach the final because they’ve failed to reach the Mexican championship play-offs beforehand, which means they go without playing for a long time. They play friendlies, but it’s not the same. We’re aiming to go into the Club World Cup with a bit of momentum behind us and to be able to genuinely compete.”
He added: “Then there’s the question of attitude. We need to go in with a positive mindset and knowing that we can achieve our goals. Our dream is to reach the final. Captains always look for the right words, like good attitude, sacrifice and humility, and we need everyone to play the way they know how, both individually and for the team. We can’t go to Japan just to make up the numbers.”
Glory mission
Standing between America and the final are two teams determined to spoil their party, one of whom is none other than Barcelona and their mighty triumvirate of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. “Playing Barça is enough to motivate any player but we know very well that we’ve got Guangzhou Evergrande first, which is going to be a very tough game,” said Sambueza, keeping his feet firmly on the ground. “We’ll have to perform very well if we want to go through and play Barcelona.”
Should they overcome those two barriers, America could well line up in the final against River Plate, a team Sambueza knows a thing or two about, having come through the Millonario youth ranks: “That would be a fantastic and emotional occasion. It’s something I want, though I will have mixed feelings a little. I’ll always be grateful to River because I started out with them. I’m totally devoted to the America cause now, though, and I’ll defend it with everything I’ve got.”
Despite the big names looming on the horizon, America are anything but intimidated and are determined to cap their recent run of success by replicating their impressive domestic form in Japan, as their captain explained: “The dream is to make the final and win it. This team has a real hunger for glory and we want to make history. It’s a unique opportunity for us.”