SOME INTERESTING MANIFESTATIONS FROM LOCO ROMANO AFTER YESTERDAY'S GAME
— Lluís Aymamí i Baudina | 17/04/1925 —

With our colleague Fors, we were in charge of the Management of EL MUNDO DEPORTIVO, to find for its readers some "fresh" impressions of the Uruguayans, after yesterday's match. We both went to the Hotel Espana, in fulfillment of the mission and we saw the opportunity to do it "in duplicate", it was possible.

Fors was in charge of the "diplomatic" conversation with one of the directors of the Uruguayan tour. Mr. De Vecchi's kindness made his mission easier.

It was left to us to ask the opinion of anyone who was not like Mr. De Vecchi, subject to the obligations of the protocol and could give us their completely naive impressions.

While Fors was talking to Mr. De Vecchi, we asked if there was any footballer, protagonist of the matches on the field, to talk to.

— There's Romano — the janitor told us.

— Well, do us the favor and ask him if he can spare a few minutes for us...

DELIGHTED...

It doesn't take two minutes for the famous Olympian, the loco Romano, as they call him in his own homeland, to appear before us.

After greetings from Rigos and after our self-introduction, Romano invites us to take a seat while he gives us the example. Without waiting for our first question, he tells us, spontaneously:

Romano: We are delighted, very delighted, with Barcelona. We came — it is fair to say — with a certain fear. They had told us: in Barcelona all foreign teams succumb. Before that game, before that crowd, it is difficult, very difficult to win in Barcelona, due to many circumstances. After the four meetings held, I have to declare to you, sincerely, with true satisfaction, that we are delighted, very delighted, with the exemplary behavior of the Catalan public, very correct and highly athletic; that we leave admired, pleasantly admired, of the football that is played here, and you can be convinced that we will proclaim it like this everywhere. The Catalan teams, if they always use the game put into practice before us, do not need "tricks" or violence to succeed.

THE MOST DIFFICULT OPPONENTS.

Romano: We have found our most fearsome and difficult adversaries in Barcelona, on the tour of Europe. It is rare to win here, it is necessary to have a very powerful and trained teams.

AND THE REFEREES?

Romano: We didn't like M. Girardin, but we didn't like Mr. Llovera today either. Neither one nor the other has left us satisfied, although we recognize their impartiality.

TIREDNESS AND PETRONE.

— But can the fact of not having won any game be attributed to the refereeing?

Romano: No, not at all. The cause of the results obtained is none other than fatigue; We are truly "crushed" after so many meetings and continuous travel. The tiredness and the missing of Petrone, which we have felt in a way that cannot be imagined.

» We naturally feel the loss of a match. But what we would feel most is having disappointed the public with our game.

— The Catalan public has been fully satisfied with the Uruguayan game.

Romano: But not us. We should have done more, if physical forces had helped us.

A PRAISE TO THE PRESS.

Romano: You believe that everything I tell you about the impression that Barcelona has made on us is sincere. And since you are a journalist — and I am not saying this to flatter you, even if you protest — I confess that we have truly admired Barcelona's sports criticism. On our tour we have not read more impartial, fairer, more understood information. Obviously, Barcelona's sports critics understand football for a long time.

» We have sent this to Montevideo, also praising the public and the players of this great city.

THE COUNTRY OF GOALKEEPERS.

Romano: There is no doubt that you have the best goalkeepers in Europe. Apparently they are abundant in this country. We knew Zamora — who we consider, and it is no exaggeration, equal to the best in the world. But Plattkó and Bordoy, in the meetings we have seen them, are his worthy followers. We haven't seen goalkeepers like the ones here.

THE PLAYERS HE HAS LIKED THE MOST.

Romano: On the whole, we thought we saw Barcelona as a class somewhat superior to CD Europa, but both teams have surpassed our assumptions.

» Apart from Plattkó and Bordoy, who have amazed us, we really liked the two wingers of the CD Europa and the centre-forward Cros, as well as the Artisus half-back. From Barcelona, Carulla, Sagi and Piera. The defenders, all of them, play "open play" and do not place, but they clear with energy.

SAMITIER.

Romano: That player above all! He is something extraordinary, enormous. They had told us a lot about Samitier. That's all true! If we took him to replace Petrone, we would be saved. I think so! He is an element that would weigh considerably in our team. He is the player who has made the biggest impression on us on our European tour.

A FEW FINAL IMPRESSIONS.

Romano: We will surely play on Monday, instead of Sunday, in Valencia. Of course, Petrone won't be able to play, because the poor guy will be out for a few months.

» It was a real misfortune what happened to him. With the hits and kicks he has received, he has never been seriously injured. And on the other hand, on Sunday, by himself, in the most innocent way, you already saw it.

— Will you return?

Romano: Yes, I think that in May to June, to compete in the pending Alfa-Romeo Cup since we do not like being awarded due to corner advantage, but by then I trust that our team will be reinforced with Cea and Nasazzi, the inside forward and the Olympic full-back, who will be called to Montevideo. To win here, we need rest and the most complete team possible. There is a lot of play here!

— Your opinion regarding Boca Juniors?

Romano: Ah! We were surprised by their latest results. It's a great team. A formidable team. Also the continuous "hustle" will have hurt them like it did us!

*   *   *

We were afraid of disturbing the friendly world champion too much and twice we tried to get up from our seat. But Romano — without abandoning his paradoxical smile on his rueful face, perhaps displeased by the results achieved in the disputes of these days — continues the conversation, with pleasantness and frankness, and twice we are overcome by the temptation to bother him some moments more.

At every moment he interjects his admiration. The Catalan public, players and press have a fervent admirer in Romano — and he affirms that all of his compatriots think the same. Delighted, very delighted! is his continuous exclamation...

Finally, overcoming the temptation, we left the seat and said goodbye. Romano, shakes our hand with true camaraderie and attentive, very attentive and affable, crosses the hall with us, accompanying us to the very door of the Hotel...

At the threshold, we repeat the greeting and Romano responds with extreme kindness...

Evidently — we think — these men are some great champions, because they also know how to lose.

Let's reciprocate his praise — perhaps excessive — by praising the Uruguayan footballers once again. He has the spirit of a winner, who knows how to lose with dignity.