3/20/09: Guillermo In Argentina's Ole

(Pic by: Bartram/Getty Images)

Article here at Ole.

Translation by WTAMU Crew:
El Melli Guillermo, day to day the symbol of the Yankee league, has faith in an encore for the Columbus Crew.

Schelotto works to keep himself on top, He is already the "Designated Player" for the Crew. "We've had a few changes, among those the coach, which isn't a minor thing, but the base of the is more or less the same and I believe we will be fine." From the other end of the telephone, Guillermo Barros Schelotto gives a direct state of the situation from Columbus to Ole.

The epic images from last November, when the Crew captured their first MLS title by the hand of Guille as he became the hero of the movie, are now part of the past. Today the United States soccer league begins its 14th season. As the new campaign begins, the 15 teams of the league (the Seattle Sounders debut, with the Swede Freddy Ljundberg as the star) have bet strongly on latinos. Of the 137 foreign players ( which come from 51 different countries) 65 come from Latin America. Of this contingent, the group from Argentina is the largest with 11 players. (MLS counts 13 players from Mexico, 10 of which were born in the United States).

It is obvious what they look for in Argentine players: quality, inteligence and craftiness. There is no one that embodies these attributes better than Guillermo Barros Schelotto. Over the past year El Melli was chosen as the leagues most valuable player and pulvarized the assists record (23 in 34 games). For all of these accomplishments and his leadership in taking Columbus to the title the club chose him as the "Designated Player", that is to say each team can set apart one player whose salary can be above the salary cap. With Beckham far away in Milan, he has become the face of MLS. "When you have a season like the one I had last year it is difficult to improve on it. I plan to render something similar. With that I can be satisfied and happy.", tells Guillermo.

Q. And what of the team. How are they?

A. Like I said before, Schmid, the coach, left for Seattle, and took with him Brad Evans, the young central forward that was one of our revelations last year, but the coach that stayed was Warzycha, the assistant, besides this everything is the same.

Q. So what do you expect in 2009?

A. We plan on the final, to be there fighting for the title again. I believe we can repeat.

Q. Who will be your rival?

A. This year we will have a go with Chicago. We already beat them in the Eastern Conference Finals last season.