Bela and Juan Martín. Juan Martín and Bela. Two legendary figures without which the paddle is not understood. 170 Tournaments together in 13 consecutive years such as numbers 1 that placed them in the Olympus of a sport that does not stop growing.
He 'Galleguito', the most spectacular left -handed that has ever seen, has chatted this week with'Twenty -edge‘ y He remembered everything that was his successful stage with Bela And, incidentally, he took the opportunity to make self -criticism about his behavior with Pehuajó on many occasions.
I demanded Bela very much. He demanded to be perfect, when he was almost perfect. It was almost all good and, even so, I kept putting pressure …
“Imagine the self -criticism I did with the passage of time, having had for my side for 13 years who is, for me, the best in the history of this sport. And still, it was hard with him,” Juan Martín began, who did not hesitate to talk openly about his demands to his demands to the partner next to him. “I demanded Bela very much. He demanded to be perfect, when he was almost perfect. It was almost all good and, even so, I kept putting pressure …“He added.
After those 13 years, The legendary couple came to an end in 2014, And it was precisely when Juan Martín Díaz realized, in the meantime change of partner –Juani Mieres, Maxi Sánchez, Cristian Gutiérrez or Paquito Navarroamong others-, how hard it was. “It was when changing companions when I took dimension of that damage I had done. If I had to change something of my career today, it would be that: having put so much pressure, not only about Bela, but also about others that were not as prepared as he“He explained.
It was when I changed companions when I took dimension of that damage I had done
The “Devil” inside
Juan Martín Díaz let 'highlights’ a handful for history throughout his successful career, but he was always a player temperamentaldemanding more unable to and with a competitive hunger that transcended beyond 20×10.
Bela and Juan Martín, in the Hexagon Cup 2024 in the tribute to the left -hander by brand.
That strong character, as he has recognized in this talk, was only overwhelmed once: when he played with Paquito Navarro in 2018. “When I played with him, it was the only time in my career that I felt pressure. He chose me when I was not up to it: I came from a recovery, I was physically very fair, and the games surpassed me. And he demanded me, looked at me badly … I got to lose so much confidence that I stopped enjoying “he recalled.
When I played with Paquito Navarro, it was the only time in my career that I felt pressure
Finally, Juan Martín left a final reflection in which he recalled that, although the years go by, all players have a strong character and that the relationship with the classmates must take care of it: “When you feel that you are above your partner, you think you have the right to demand, to press. I give you an example: when I played with Campa, I felt that I could tell him things. And think: 'Poor Campa'. But then you see Campa with another partner … and he does the same, he murders the other. “
“We all take the devil in the body. HOh times that comes out and sometimes not. I had to keep it with Paco, but with others it came out. Each one has his little little little one, “he said.
