Juan Carlos LetelierWorld Cup winner in Spain 82 and finalist in the 1987 Copa América, had a brief but successful time in Peruvian football, as he became champion with University of Sports in 1992 and repeated the feat with Sporting Cristal two years later in 1994, although with the team ‘Meringue‘He managed to get into the hearts of the fans.
A few days before the long-awaited meeting between Peru and Chile for the first date of the Copa América 2024, Infobae Peru spoke with the popular ‘Crazy‘, who offered his opinion about Ricardo Garecathe current situation of both teams and recalled his time in Peruvian soccer.
-How do you see the match between Peru and Chile for the first round of the Copa América?
They are two teams that are starting a process. We have as a technician Gareca, who has been in charge of the team for no more than three months. He has had two pretty good friendly matches, in which we have seen what he wants from this team. That can help us. Peru has the same difficulties, it is starting a process with Jorge Fossati. We are aware that the Americas Cups are very different from the Qualifiers, and they are two teams that are going to test new techniques and new processes.
– What opinion do you have of Ricardo Gareca in these first months at the helm of Chile?
He has taken a lot of advantage from players who had not been playing, and gave them the opportunity and confidence. He comes from Peru, where he also did a good job. A selection that is always complicated, but left a good mark. And that gives us peace of mind that here in Chile it will be the same job, or perhaps better, depending on the players they have.
– What do you think of your decision not to take Arturo Vidal to the Copa América?
It’s just that the processes are ending. We had a 10-year-old team, in which Vidal participated, but at the moment, perhaps the coach does not believe that he is fit. Vidal He did a lot for the national team and internationally. But currently we have to give way to those who come. And that is a regulation and a history that all of us who have been on the playing field know. From the previous generation, 2 or 3 players remain. It is a renewal of players, and he has to be aware that this situation could arise. Now for the coach there are much more important players who are performing better.
– Two controversies that involved Gareca were the non-call of Ben Brereton for not speaking Spanish, and the call of Luciano Cabral, who in the past was convicted of homicide.
For us it has not been a problem. He is looking for players that he needs for the national team. Regarding Brereton, he is a more European than Chilean player. He has been in England all his life, living in Europe. It is logical that his language is English, but if he wants to participate in the Chilean team, to understand himself with his teammates and the coach, he at least has to make the effort, as all players do when they go to Europe, to learn the language of the country you are in. He has to be aware of that, and he is doing it.
Regarding Cabral, he is a player who is doing very well here in Chile, he is Argentine, with ancestry from Chilean parents and grandparents. He had a problem in his youth, with his family, but that does not put the tombstone so that he cannot participate. He now he is doing things well. He’s had his chance and he’s taking advantage of it. Neither for us as Chileans nor for the coach has it been a problem.
– You reached the final of the 1987 Copa América with Chile, and also played in several qualifiers, eventually qualifying for the World Cup in Spain 82. How different, in your experience, is the Copa América from the qualifiers?
Since the format is already different, the America Cup It is a short championship, in which you have to go game by game to reach the final. On the other hand, the qualifying round is a long championship, lasting almost two years, in which you have many possibilities to change teams if players are injured, or call up new players who are going through a better moment. The America Cup It’s much more difficult.
-What memories of your confrontations with the Peruvian team? How do you experience those games?
They are classics, just like Alianza Lima vs Universitario or Colo Colo vs U. de Chile. They are games that require a lot of work, both on and off the field. There are always fights, but everything in sports.
– Here in Peru There was criticism of Ricardo Gareca for leaving for the classic rival, so there is a lot of expectation for that reunion. How is this being experienced in Chile?
Not at all, here in Chile you see the professional part. Gareca did a very good job in Peru and, therefore, both Chile and Paraguay saw the possibility of taking him. Here, the past of each technician is not an issue to worry about. The issue is to have a good participation in the America Cuphave a team that can qualify for the World Cup, and hopefully Gareca, as he took you to the World Cup, can do it with us, and we will appreciate it. He is a 100% professional, we must value what he did in Peru, there is a reason why he became so loved, and the fact that he is now in another country does not erase his successes or memories of him with the national team. Peruvian
– You had a short, but outstanding time at Universitario. Have you been following him lately? You should know that we are in the year of your centenary…
When you have been in a club where you have felt loved and respected as a person and as a player, it is logical that you always have beautiful memories. I’ve been following the team. After some very bad years, we now have the peace of mind that they are the champions of Peruvian soccer, a very complicated championship. I hope they don’t have board problems again, so that they continue to be the biggest team in Peru.
– Now there is another Chilean footballer who got into the hearts of the ‘U’ fans. This is Rodrigo Ureña. Do you know him, what is your opinion about him?
Yes, I’ve been seeing it. I’ve seen that he plays with the same number that I used, which is 18. In that sense, it’s good, because it’s going to give him luck. There are few Chileans who have had the chance to be loved in Peru, and what better than in a great club like Universitario.
– Have they called you or had communication with you from the club, for any activity for the centenary?
I hope you are invited to that great party. All of us who have been there and have contributed a grain of sand to the history of Universitario, hope to be recognized by that huge fan base, which is half plus one of the country. All of us who have been there would like to participate in all the events that happen at the club.
– What is the best memory you have from your time at Universitario?
The main thing is that, when you arrive and make your debut, and make your debut with a goal, and on top of that, you score and beat your usual rival at home. Lima Alliance. I think that for me, made the difference in academic. Making your debut by scoring in a classic in Matute is one of the most beautiful memories you have, of course, along with turning around at the end of the year.
-He also had a stint at Sporting Cristal, where he became champion again…
What happens is that when I left academicI went to play for Caracas FC in Venezuela, where I played the Libertadores Cup against Peruvian teams. He precisely touched us with Glass and academic. When we visited the ‘U’ they gave me a very nice welcome, and when we visited Cristal, we achieved the first victory of a Venezuelan team away from home in the history of this tournament; I scored the goal.
Then, Juan Carlos Oblitas, who was Cristal’s coach, called me. More than anything, he called me because he wanted to help players who were at a low level and could perform what he wanted. I was finally able to become champion with Cristal, and that makes a big difference from what I did in just two years in Peruvian soccer.
