Matías Rocha dreams big at Unión: “Main aim is a Copa place” | OneFootball

Matías Rocha arrived at Unión to strengthen the back line and quickly began to take on a leading role. The Uruguayan defender, signed from Arouca of Portugal, has already made himself available to Leonardo Madelón and even got his first minutes in the top flight wearing the red-and-white shirt.

In an interview with Unión Play, the club’s official program, Rocha spoke about his first few weeks in Santa Fe and especially highlighted the welcome he received within the squad.

“The group is wonderful. A very healthy group, very supportive, and there are also many young players coming through,” said the defender, who quickly settled into a squad with a strong presence of young footballers.

Rocha also sounded optimistic about the team’s potential and said Unión has what it takes to compete. “I think it’s a group that has everything we need to compete. Obviously, there are difficult matches, but it’s a group that can compete,” he stated.

Rocha’s objective at Unión

The Uruguayan defender did not hide his ambitions for this stage of his career and quickly set his sights on international tournaments. “I think that nowadays the main thing is to qualify for a cup to get started. After that, obviously, we’ll aim for something else,” he said.

In this way, Rocha made it clear that his arrival at Unión is not only linked to the intention of establishing himself in Argentine football, but also to the desire to achieve important goals with the team.

Madelón’s demands

The center-back also revealed what Leonardo Madelón asked of him from the moment he arrived and highlighted a trait he considers essential for playing in central defense.

“He told me, ‘Here I’m going to ask you to be more aggressive, and if you have to hit, then hit’,” Rocha recalled.

And he added: “I like players like that—strong players who defend. In the center-back position, the first thing you have to do is defend.”

Adapting to Argentine football was another topic addressed by the Uruguayan, who found similarities with his experience in Portugal, although he also pointed out some important differences.

“I’ve only been here for three weeks, but it’s similar. Still, the pace here is different—more physical and more technical as well,” he analyzed.

Rocha arrived in Portuguese football after an experience that allowed him to face some of the biggest teams in Europe. “You go to the sixth most important league in Europe and play against teams like Porto, Benfica, Sporting, Braga—the big clubs. Before you know it, you’re competing on equal terms with those players,” he explained.

A competitive defender

When describing himself as a footballer, Rocha highlighted his competitive spirit and his intention to contribute both defensively and in possession.

“I’m a player who never gives anything up, above all. I’m very competitive. I like the ball a lot, I really enjoy playing, and I want to contribute as much as I can technically and tactically. And then, obviously, there’s the defensive side too,” he said.

With only a few weeks at the club and his first minutes already under his belt, the Uruguayan is looking to establish himself as an important option for Madelón in defense.

The dream of wearing La Celeste

Finally, Rocha revealed one of his biggest personal goals: one day making it to the Uruguay national team. “If you ask me, what I want most is to be able to wear that shirt someday. It’s my dream, truly,” he admitted.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.