Ricardo Gareca opens the press conference prior to the clash between the National Team and Paraguay with an announcement. “The boys are progressing well with some discomfort. Nothing serious, the medical department told me. We wait for the evolution. We don’t need to rush anyone. Possibly, we cover ourselves. (Benjamín) Kusevic has been called”says the Tiger, just as a first reference.
Later, the picture will become clearer. Strictly speaking, against the Guarani there will be three absences. “Everything that is, is for the match with Paraguay. Now we cover ourselves for the match with Paraguay, where we will not have Maripán and Paulo Díaz. After the game we will see about the Copa América. Anyone can leave or enter. Once we have a medical report on what condition the boys are in, we will proceed so that there is a list as quickly as possible.”he explains later. He also rules out Darío Osorio from the squad. “Our assessment of Osorio is very high. He is triumphing in a difficult country, a complicated language. Great figures use it as a jump. He has won a championship. For the match, we prefer not to risk it. It’s very nice. According to what he tells us, he is looking forward to it,” he says regarding the figure of Midtjylland.
Tigre’s tone is conciliatory, even when he has to talk about the first controversy he had to face in his management: the decision not to provide Felipe Loyola with Huachipato for the Copa Libertadores while, at the same time, Alexis Sánchez enjoyed his vacation, joining later to training. “Loyola and Sánchez are two different things. One ends the season. The president called me, I spoke with the president. I explained the situation to her and I will explain it to you, because I received reports that she was somewhat confused. If I reach an agreement with the federation and I have a week of work prior to the FIFA date, which was what I did before in Peru and the local teams are in competition, I prioritize them playing. If I have a day for them to arrive, the priority is the National Team. Although I don’t like strict things, a concession opens doors for any type of concession. As it is FIFA date and we already choose to work and we see that the priority is the National Team. In the case of Alexis, the season ends, we see the recovery during the break. There were players who started on 3, 4 and he started on 6. If the players ask for it and there is no danger that he could lose form, there are no problems whatsoever,” he says.
Then, he addresses aspects related to his methodology, as an introduction to the reference to the absence of emblematic players, such as Arturo Vidal and Gary Medel. “They have been given a work plan. There are guys from the local environment who are working. There are some who have been given a work plan in case they can be incorporated. We are of the idea that we build something. You, if you build a house or building, in one hour you tear it down. Building it took years, a very important time. Building is super difficult. Along those lines I would like you to know us. Among the things I talk about in private: a player who is named for the first time in the National Team, is never left out of consideration. The same with the historical ones. They are always part of the National Team. It’s not that we are going to call them, but they will always be on our radar. We don’t want to disarm. Hence we are going to change 10 players, it is difficult. So that we can get to know each other. It is difficult to build something,” he emphasizes.
Along these lines, take Vidal as an example “Arturo, or players like them, the great figures who have aroused everyone’s admiration, always have their doors open. It is always a latent and constant possibility. They are players with a lot of experience, who have so much that I am sure that if they make a decision on a nomination, they will adapt quickly to this. It is different to one who does not have experience, who wants to know it,” she maintains. He also approves of the way in which Sánchez and Eduardo Vargas, the offensive references, arrived.
The coach settles any hint of doubt regarding a possible disagreement with the ANFP. “The trip is good. If I have to talk to you about support, it is constant. “It’s what we notice constantly,” he says. And then try to be clear. “What is published is something I don’t get involved in. I never get into a controversy with journalism, with colleagues or with players. I would never allow myself that. The most important thing of all is that I have a contract with Chile. Regardless of any problem with the federation, which I don’t have, I have a contract that I will respect to the last consequences, sportingly and financially. The commitment is absolute“, it states.
He prefers, by the way, to focus on football. “It is important to identify what Chile is playing. It is something predominant. Football is very changing. One sometimes dominates and is dominated. The ideal is to dominate, of course. I want what you saw, what Chile did in its best moments,” he says.
It also addresses his decision to opt for a limited payroll. “They are methodologies. Nobody has the truth. I have also cited more. I am interested in seeing them directly, that they have continuity. Sometimes the fatality of some discomfort occurs. It also helps me to see some youth players who come to participate with us. It is part of a whole. We consider that the quality of the work is quite even. That there are not so many players left out when we play formal football. At this moment, we choose that,” he says. The formation for the duel against Albirroja will be transmitted to the players in the early hours of Tuesday. “I still don’t give the team. Tomorrow we have training. We like to move on game day. I’m going to see how they dawn“, Explain.
Gareca addresses the complexity of the group that will have Chile against Argentina, Peru and Canada. “It’s a complicated group. Peru is always getting involved. Argentina is the last champion. Canada tied France. None of the four have anything assured. Logically, Argentina is the favorite, but everyone will have to compete for a place. It’s a pretty closed group.”, he maintains.
It also contains a reference to Manuel Pellegrini’s visit to Pinto Durán. “The Pellegrini thing gratifies everyone. I have great respect for him. I publicly stated that I like what I see in his equipment, how he handles himself in every aspect. I saw him work in Argentina. All of that made him a technician or one of the technicians that I like to follow. For me he is the best Chilean coach and one of the best in the world. We don’t talk that deeply. He found the place very pleasant. I showed him all the facilities. He was very satisfied with everything he saw. He will decide in the future. He is an ideal coach for Chile, but we have to see what he decides, sooner or later. Today he has a contract in Europe. You should feel very well represented by what he has done,” he concludes.
