In the preview of the match between Chile and Peru for the Copa América in the United States, Nolberto Solano (49) gave an interview to AS. The Inca football legend advanced that match and remembered Ricardo Gareca with great affection. Between 2015 and 2022, the ‘Maestrito’ was a technical assistant for the ‘Tigre’ in the Bicolor.
“Ricardo has been taking Chile’s hand and the team has had good responses. And well, Professor Fossati is in that search in Peru, it is always difficult to adapt. The team has not shown positive things offensively and is in debt. It seems to me that Chile will be a little better,” reflects the former midfielder from England.where he leads the Blyth Spartans, a Seventh Division squad.
– You were Gareca’s assistant in Peru. Have you talked to him again?
– We have had little dialogue. But hey, now you have a great person and a great coach. In Peru we are very grateful for everything he did. We returned to a World Cup after so many years and we were close to going to another. I have had the privilege and honor of working alongside him.
– Did you have a chance to join Ricardo’s coaching staff in Chile?
– No, we never talked about it. I think there was no need to talk about it… In my time as a soccer player, I was a reference here and that could have generated a controversy. But the truth is that I am very grateful to Ricardo, for the space he gave me.
– When Gareca arrived in Chile, in Peru there was talk of betrayal. What do you think?
– That’s more about the journalistic medium than about the people themselves. We will remember Ricardo for a lifetime and he will be missed, but this is football and he is a professional.
– Gareca left Arturo Vidal and Gary Medel out of the Copa América. What do you think?
– Look, Ricardo always said here that he never discards anyone. For him, age is not an impediment. Knowing him, I would believe that Ricardo chatted with them, that they are important players. I think I made this decision to see other footballers… We already know the quality of Vidal and Medel does not have to prove anything to Chile.
-Does Chile lose a certain impact without Vidal?
– Let’s see… remember that Vidal has been playing at a high level with the National Team. It seems to me that Ricardo is giving him a break. The Qualifiers are Chile’s priority, because they must get into a World Cup again, and I would believe that Vidal had a conversation and Ricardo told him ‘rest and see you in the Qualifiers’.
– Now, in Chile there is a lot of faith in what Darío Osorio can do…
– I got it. He is a good footballer, I know him well… Surely, Ricardo is going to enhance him a lot, because that is the good thing he has with young footballers. Now, in the Cup, surely (other teams) will see it.
– You played several games against La Roja. Which ones do you remember the most?
-There were so many… For example, I had to face Marcelo Salas in Sub 15, Sub 17, Sub 20, Sub 23 and older. They were nice matches. The rivalry, yes, is in football. There are many Peruvians living in Chile and there are many Chileans living in Peru. There is harmony there and you never have to mix. It’s a football rivalry and that’s where it ends.
– You surely have anecdotes from those games. Tell us one…
– Well, in the 1998 World Cup Qualifiers we had to experience a very hostile atmosphere, both upon arrival at the stadium and during the night before. All the taxi drivers agreed to make noise and there were fireworks. Chile was playing for qualification and we may have slept little. We didn’t expect that and well, it was… But later on the field what had to happen to us happened (Chile won 4-0 in the Nacional) and well, there is no excuse.
