Gruezo: “Be prepared to run, fight and give everything”
Interview with the FCA midfielder
First Team
08.04.2021, 17:36
Carlos Gruezo made a long-awaited return to the Augsburg starting XI in the 2-1 win over TSG Hoffenheim. We spoke to the midfielder about his current form, the effect of the pandemic on his family life, and his expectations for Sunday’s trip to FC Schalke 04 (11th April, 15:30 CEST).
“The three points were very important for the team,” says Gruezo thinking back to last weekend’s victory over Hoffenheim, not least because of FCA’s position in the table, which made the result “all the more satisfying”, according to the midfielder. It was a positive game in more ways than one for the 25-year-old though, as he returned to the starting line-up for the first time since early February. “I always work hard and truly believed that I would get my chance again soon,” says Gruezo. Statistical analysis of the game puts him in a good light too, clocking an impressive 11 kilometres covered. “I was lacking a little rhythm, so I was a bit tired after the match,” he admits.
The last five matchdays have seen Augsburg yo-yo between tasting victory and defeat. “That’s football for you,“ explains Gruezo. “We go into every game with the aim of winning and picking up as many points as possible, but you just never know what will happen. Our opponents do some good analysis too and also have talented players, so it’s not always possible for us to get the result we’re after.”
“The current situation is very tough for me personally”
While things are going well for on the pitch for FCA at the moment, coronavirus still has a huge effect on the players’ day-to-day lives. “The current situation is very tough for me personally,“ says Gruezo. “The majority of my family live in Ecuador and my wife’s family is in Colombia. I haven’t seen them for over 18 months. We message each other and speak on the phone and via FaceTime a lot, but I still miss them all a great deal.”
Next up for Augsburg in the Bundesliga is a trip to FC Schalke 04 this coming Sunday. “I’m expecting a very difficult match. Schalke will be determined to stop their run of defeats and pick up some points, so they will battle hard,” anticipates Gruezo. The meeting with the Royal Blues earlier this season ended in a 2-2 draw. “We want to pick up all three points this time, so we will have to be prepared to do a lot of running, fight hard and give everything,” insists the midfielder. Gruezo hasn’t found the net for FCA so far this season, but goals aren’t a priority for him. “I work for the team. It’s not about scoring goals myself – it’s about the team picking up points.”
