Gareca and the criticism in Peru for leading Chile: “We are not robots…” :: Olé

After the duel between Argentina and Canada this Thursday, the first date of Group A in the Copa América will continue on Friday with a spicy duel. Chile and Peru will star in a new edition of the Pacific Classic, with an extra seasoning: Ricardo Gareca, today coach of La Roja, will meet again with the Inca team, which he directed for eight years.

In Peru, Tigre’s decision to take Chile was not well received, taking into account the historical rivalry between the two. Even, Former players and some sectors of the press came to call him a “traitor”. Before this Friday’s duel in Texas, Gareca was asked how he experienced the duel against the Peruvians.

“We are not robots, we are humans and my emotional part is strictly about presenting the best team for the start of the cup and being focused on this new challenge. Thanking the people, of course. That will never change, but I am a professional, I make a living from this and today I am focused on everything that has to do with the Chilean team,” Gareca said at a press conference.

Furthermore, the Tiger recognized that “For both countries these games are special, But beyond all that, it will be a difficult, complicated duel and when the ball starts rolling the players experience it in a very passionate way. “Both teams have things to prove, to improve, so we will draw conclusions.”

Regarding the team, the Tiger played a mystery: “I told the players that I will give the team the same day. I have a lot of the team in my head, maybe some doubts and I want to see how they get up and how I get up too. We have quite defined some points, they are working very well. They are guys who are very involved in this start of the cup, we have seen them all work very well.”

Jorge Fossati, Peru coach, was sincere with the expectations with which they arrive at the Copa América. In the run-up to the debut against Chile, the experienced Uruguayan gave his players a mood booster: “What is in our hands is to use the present so that reality changes. Beyond all the folklore that this match has in particular, because of the coach, because it is the Pacific classic, above all we have to respect the rival without underestimating but not overestimating either.”