Pekerman applauds rebel Riquelme (28 Jan 2006 00:26 GMT)
Argentina coach Jose Pekerman says soccer needs 'rebels' like Villarreal playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme who stay true to their footballing principles.
"It is rare to see a young player stand by his way of playing when it is often far easier to just go along with what you are told to do," Pekerman told sports daily AS on Wednesday.
"In this sense Riquelme is a rebel and there are not enough rebels like him around."
Pekerman, who is visiting Spain to check the form of Argentine players before the World Cup, has made the 27-year-old central to his plans for Germany.
But the gifted midfielder has suffered in the past from accusations that he is too slow.
Pekerman continued: "You can make people run faster, get them to pressure the other side, alter the strategy... but one thing that never changes is the vision. You don't need to run quickly to have this."
"I always thought he would be a success because he was a good footballer who stuck to his principles."
"He didn't have a good time at Barcelona but it gave him the desire to want to do well in Europe and prove himself there. I have a lot of confidence in him."
Riquelme joined Barca from Boca Juniors for 11 million euros ($13.53 million) in July 2002, but never lived up to expectations and was loaned out to Villarreal when Ronaldinho was signed at the start of the 2003/04 season.
Under Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini, however, he has enjoyed a return to form and in June 2005 signed a four-year contract to make his loan move permanent.
He is currently Villarreal's top scorer in the league with nine goals.
source : FIFA