The voice of Ricardo Gareca has always been heard in the Peru. And he was in charge of returning our country to a World Cup after 36 years. However, many fans of the national team were disappointed after the ‘Tiger’ would agree to direct Chilidue to the historical rivalry that exists between the two countries.
Just over three months since it was announced, the Argentine coach has once again referred to the issue and even released a sincere phrase about the fans’ reaction. ‘inca’in addition to accepting that he did not expect to work for the painting ‘southern’.
“I have always received words of gratitude from people on the street. In that, very good. Afterwards I have felt criticismbut the only thing I did was respect my contracts during the time I was there, a year and a half has passed,” were his first words in an interview for DSports.
That was when he assured that the offer from the Chilean Football Federation came to him unprepared, but that the seriousness with which the leaders approached him, in addition to the fact that his predecessor, Eduardo Berizzo, had communicated to him his own decision not to follow, caused me to choose to accept the position.
“I didn’t expect Chile to come up after that time. The president wanted to talk to me and came with other directors to Buenos Aires. I liked the way they spoke to me and I noticed something very serious. The perspectives they saw for the selection. They made a decision because Eduardo Berizzo walked away from the national team, not because of any issue or initiative on their part, but rather it was on Eduardo’s part,” he commented.
In fact, a key factor was the conversation that Ricardo Gareca with Eduardo Berizzo, who directed the Chile team between May 2022 to November 2023.
“I met Eduardo for coffee in Santiago and that was it. He himself decided to distance himself from the national team. Afterwards, I did not hesitate to accept the challenge”, he noted.
Ricardo Garecain front of the peruvian teamachieved several transcendental achievements, among which the following stand out:
- Russia 2018 World Cup Qualification: Under his command, Peru returned to a World Cup after 36 years of absence. This happened after beating New Zealand in the playoffs.
- Finalist of the Copa América 2019: The ‘bicolor’ reached the final of the Copa América in Brazil 2019. Precisely, in the grand final they succumbed to the host 1-0.
- Generational renewal: Ricardo Gareca stood out for promoting a renewal in the national team, giving opportunity and confidence to young players. He created a competitive group with a good future, which not only served him for immediate results, but also to form a solid foundation for the future.
- Playing style: One of Gareca’s successes was imposing an offensive and possession style of play, which allowed Peru to be competitive against any rival. The football identity that he developed during his time has been widely recognized and respected internationally.
On the other hand, Ricardo Gareca admitted that he did receive the call to direct Boca Juniorsalthough he had to reject it because he was in command of the peruvian team. On more than one occasion she mentioned that he always sought to respect contracts.
“They never called me from Boca. I only had a chance once and it was when I was in Peru, before Gustavo Alfaro took over. But I told Daniel Angelici at that time that it was impossible for me. Beyond that, there was never an initiative from Boca, not even when I was free,” he told the aforementioned media.
To end, Ricardo Gareca mentioned the mission he will have in the Copa América with the Chile teamin addition to emphasizing the final objective.
“I know the Chilean players from having faced them. Now I’m getting to know them on a daily basis, watching them work. I am going to use the Copa América to confirm, to evaluate what the Qualifiers will be like. But the reality is that the goal is the World Cup,” he added.
