Colombia has recovered its self-esteem and its ways, recognized this Saturday the coach of Ecuador, Gustavo Alfaro, in the prelude to the clash between both teams in the debut in the Copa América in Brazil-2021.
“We know the team we are going to face. A team that has regained its self-esteem, their forms, their intensity, “said Alfaro at a virtual press conference at the Arena Pantanal World Cup in Cuiabá (center), the match for the first date of Group B.
The selected coffee grower set the road straight in the South American qualifier for the Qatar-2022 World Cup during the double date of June, by beating Peru 3-0 in Lima and drawing 2-2 with Argentina in Barranquilla.
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These meetings marked the beginning of the third cycle of Reinaldo Rueda at the head of the Colombian cast, after his irregular campaign in the Chilean national team and after the departure of the Portuguese Carlos Queiroz.
“Colombia recovered its spirit and gives the feeling of being at peace with himself, “added the former Boca Juniors technician, in charge of Ecuador since August 2020.
“We have the modest illusions that everyone has. The aspiration is always the maximum, we want to make a great Copa América and the first objective is to qualify “for the quarterfinals, said Alfaro.
Ecuador, third in the pre-global qualifying round behind the leader Brazil and his Argentine escort, lost their clashes in June against the ‘Seleçao’ (2-0), in Porto Alegre, and Peru (2-1), in Quito.
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“We are in a very even group,” he said, referring to key B, in which, in addition to Colombia, he shares Brazil, Venezuela and Peru with the host.
“Brazil is setting the standard, because for me it is not the best team in South Americabut one of the best in the world. And then there is a very even level in the four teams that make up the group, so I understand that it will be very tight and very difficult for all teams to achieve the objectives, “he considered.
Forward Ángel Mena, present at the virtual press conference, praised the recovery of Colombia by the hand of Rueda and said that the latest results make it a “very strong” team.
“We have to be very careful. What they showed with the change of coach He surely has them with a lot of motivation and will be very high to face us, “warned the 33-year-old right winger at the service of the Lion of Mexico.
Mena was the 6-1 figure that the Tricolor endorsed the coffee growers in Quito, last November in the regional tie, a result that cut off Queiroz’s head.
“Whenever there is a change of coach, things change completely from the attitude, from the approach, from what the new coach wants. Tying a game against a team like Argentina in the last minutes, I think it leaves you with a taste of triumph, “said Mena.
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