Ahead of his official retirement celebration scheduled for October 17 at Estadio Bicentenario de La Florida, former Universidad de Chile defender Matías Rodríguez has revealed that Colo Colo winger Martín Rodríguez gave him the hardest time of his career during domestic Super clásico matches, RedGol reported.
Farewell Match Set for October at La Florida
Matías Rodríguez prepares to step away from professional football in a tribute event dubbed a “fiesta bullanguera” in La Florida. The Argentine-born right-back remains a beloved figure among Universidad de Chile supporters, primarily for his role in capturing the 2011 Copa Sudamericana and scoring memorable goals against arch-rivals Colo Colo.
The Clash with Martín Rodríguez
During an appearance on the program “Rayando el CDA,” Rodríguez was asked which player from the traditional adversary caused him the most frustration on the pitch. Without hesitation, the defender pointed to Martín Rodríguez, describing a specific tactical duel where he felt completely outmatched along the flank.
“I had a bad time with Martín Rodríguez, in a single match,” Rodríguez stated on the program, as reported by RedGol. Explaining the mental chess match of high-stakes defending, he added: “Because you see, as a defender, one has to put in a hard tackle right away and see how the rival reacts. I didn’t want to make the tackle just in case, and he gained more confidence and beat me.”
A Defeat Kept in Memory
“When I played, it was him attacking me and me attacking him. In Argentina it was an arm-wrestle, and I had to beat him, and in that match he was more. I had a bad time, at home I said how badly I had it, horrible,” Rodríguez said.
“Whenever I remember those matches, I have no doubts in saying it, because the good and the bad are counted,” he concluded.
Universidad de Chile Career Highlights
Rodríguez’s storied career with Universidad de Chile featured multiple domestic league titles alongside the historic 2011 international trophy under manager Jorge Sampaoli.
October Retirement Schedule
The upcoming farewell event on October 17 at Estadio Bicentenario de La Florida will bring together former teammates and supporters to honor the defender’s legacy with the club.
Worth a look
