“I’ll give everything for this shirt”
A silent celebration for the club cameras was the idea, but Agustín Rogel is not someone who does half-measures. Asked to strike a pose, the first Uruguayan in our club's history erupts with a loud cry of "goool!" It is this passion that made the defender so popular at his former side, Estudiantes de la Plata, and now Rogel wants to bring his enthusiasm to the capital. “My philosophy is that you may not always win, but you always have to have done everything you can to get the victory,” said the club’s new number 3. “I want to give everything for this shirt and do my part to bring happiness to the Hertha fanbase!” Speaking to herthabsc.com, Montevideo-born defender discussed nicknames, hobbies and discussions with familiar faces.
herthabsc.com: Agustín, welcome to Berlin! First of all, a personal question: what is your favourite dessert?
Rogel: (Laughs) Of course, it’s a rogel! I’m not sure how popular that is in Europe, but it’s a sweet cake with a lot of dulce de leche (editor’s note: a cream made from milk, vanilla and sugar) and it’s very popular in South America.
herthabsc.com: How appropriate – we also ask because we came across your nicknames Postrecito (dessert) and Pastelito (cupcake) during our research. How did they come about?
Rogel: I got them from Argentine commentators during a broadcast of a game. I got a very warm welcome at Estudiantes, it’s been a really nice story. They opened a door for me there after what was a difficult time in my career and the great experiences I had there will stay in my heart. So therefore I like the two nicknames, but mostly people just call me Agu.
herthabsc.com: Okay, then we'll call you Agu, too. Let's now turn our attention to the foobtalling side of things. When and how did you decide to take the next step in your career at Hertha?
Rogel: It wasn't an easy decision to make, because I felt very comfortable at Estudiantes and the club didn't really want me to leave yet. But when we were eliminated from the Copa Libertadores, I knew that now was the right moment from a footballing point of view. Now I want to work as hard as possible to be able to help the team as much as possible, fit in well here and develop.
herthabsc.com: What do you want to achieve with our club?
Rogel: Firstly I want to settle in to my new surroundings, get to know my teammates and then it’s work, work, work! My philosophy is that you may not always win, but you always have to give absolutely everything you have and do everything to win. If we manage to do that together, hopefully we can have some great moments here!
[>]I’m very committed and willing to make sacrifices for success; that’s simply part of my game.[<]
herthabsc.com: A lot of our fans have already tried to familiarise themselves by watching highlight videos, but we'd like to ask you yourself: How do you describe yourself as a player? What can our supporters look forward to?
Rogel: I would say that I’m a typical Uruguayan player. I’m very committed and willing to make sacrifices for success; that’s simply part of my game. I also really like aerial side of the game and I’ve managed to score a few headers recently, so obviously I hope I can keep it up! I want to give everything for this shirt and do my part to bring happiness to the people of Hertha.
herthabsc.com: You know how to impress fans with your commitment and you've played in some fiery games during your career: the derby in your hometown of Montevideo as well as the the Clásico Platense in La Plata... which Bundesliga games are looking forward to the most?
Rogel: The first derby against Union has already taken place, but those fixtures will definitely be special; I enjoy them. I want to approach every game like a final, play as often as possible and give everything, regardless of whether it's against Dortmund, like the last game, or against Augsburg next Sunday. Every game is a chance to pick up important points!
herthabsc.com: You’re the first Uruguayan player in the club’s 130-year history. Is that special for you?
Rogel: Really? I didn’t know that, but it makes me incredibly happy. Hopefully I can do it justice and leave my mark here.
herthabsc.com: You’re also the second player to play for Hertha after playing for Estudiantes. The first was Santiago Ascacíbar. Do you know each other?
Rogel: Yeah. We played against each other several teams at youth level for our national teams and we chatted when he was in La Plata in January. I had never have thought back then that I’d be coming here this summer, so I couldn’t ask him how he liked it. (laughs)
herthabsc.com: Did you speak to anyone from the Bundesliga before your move?
Rogel: I spoke to José Sosa (editor’s note: Sosa played for FC Bayern between 2007 and 2010), who joined Estudiantes just a few weeks before I left. He shared his impressions of the Bundesliga with me – he told me that I’d be coming to one of the best leagues in the world and that he can imagine me fitting in well here with my profile and attitude.
herthabsc.com: A quick look at your social media pages shows just how important your family is to you. Can you describe the role they’ve had in your career?
Rogel: They have always been here for me, in the good moments and the not-so-good moments. Having their support is very important for me. I love them a lot and I’ll be calling them as much as possible. (laughs)
herthabsc.com: Who has accompanied you to Berlin? Have you ever been here before?
Rogel: My partner Lucía will come with me. We’ve been together for five years and we are also bringing our little dog with us. We’ve been to Europe before but we’ve never been to Germany. It’s definitely exciting to move here. I’m really hoping that I’ll enjoy the experience and of course, I’m going to be one more tourist discovering Berlin! (grins)
herthabsc.com: What do you like to do in your free time when you’re not playing football?
Rogel: I really like to read. Recently I bought a book about medicine that I want to get stuck into. Apart from that, I like to walk my dog and find new places in the city.