Fernando Muslera was the hero of the day in Santiago del Estero. The figure in the penalty shootout, in which he saved two shots, spoke with emotion about his feelings after winning a new title for Estudiantes.
“First of all, I would like to thank all the people who came here, those who stayed in La Plata and my family in Uruguay. I am very happy to have made the decision to come to Estudiantes,” he said, still with the adrenaline of the celebrations. As he noted, since his arrival he felt that the group had a special strength: “This team is crazy. I don’t have the words to describe the emotions and the joy I feel.”
Muslera recalled that the journey was not easy and emphasized the team’s resilience in the most critical moments of the tournament. “At some point they thought we were dead. I said it after the game against Tigre: Estudiantes knows impossible things,” he reviewed. Regarding his performance in the penalty shootout, he explained that he had overcome it “with peace of mind”: “Luckily I was able to react. The last shot hit the post and hit my hand. It served to bring the championship to these boys, who had a year with a lot of ups and downs.”
When asked about the doubts that surrounded the team after a series of defeats, he replied that they never lost confidence: “Things happen for a reason. This sport is unpredictable and today we got a deserved victory. This team is getting used to winning trophies and that’s what counts for the future.”
The goalkeeper also praised the work of the entire club: “Estudiantes has values that make it a model club. I won’t say it myself, but it is a club with a European mentality. I have been there for many years and I am surprised and happy. The trust of the coach, the support of the people and the work of the entire staff mean that we are experiencing this today.”
Muslera also revealed that his arrival in La Plata was pushed by his inner circle: “My friends Nacho and Rodri insisted that I come. But my wife, who is a doctor, had the last word and she told me: ‘Go where they want you’. And here I am. She was not wrong.”
Looking at the development of the final, he also highlighted the level of the rival and the quality of the players: “Maravilla scored a great goal, he is a killer in the penalty area. Then I had to respond with a key ball and that is the most important thing to be able to celebrate.”
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