James Rodriguez is obliterated at Everton. It does not count even now that the figures Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin are on the sidelines due to injury, or that the leadership and experience of Coleman and Pockford are missed. A man with the left-handed court could give a hand in play and in handling but not even in that emergency case does coach Rafa Benítez want to use it.
For the Liverpool Echo newspaper, which covers training sessions on a daily basis, there is something that is not fully clarified in the DT’s statements, as the player trains alongside everyone and suddenly, without anything abnormal, the Spaniard comes out to talk about a “fear for the muscle” that no one ends up convincing.
Benítez, it seems, has a hard time turning the page on the differences he had with the Colombian when they both met at Real Madrid and, in light of the facts, that situation is far from changing, although both know that a new beginning is in their best interest. : The footballer needs minutes to count again in the Colombian National Team -at least- and improve his image in the face of the winter market and the DT could well use his talent in games like this weekend, in which he ideas close and a spark that makes a difference is missed.
And there everything is stagnant, with that crossing of partial information, half truths and doubts about the real physical condition of a man who could be key in the Qatar 2022 Qualifiers. That is why FUTBOLRED has contacted national and foreign coaches, with experience in clubs but also in national teams, to find ways of solving an overdiagnosed problem: what should James do to reappear? These are their responses:
1. What does it depend on if a coach can change his opinion about a player with whom he had problems in the past?
Luis Fernando Suarez
Colombian, World Cup player, current coach of Costa Rica
My opinion is very subjective, I am a coach. I honestly say that one does not have much to gain because almost always leaving aside a player with a very high ego or has incurred in some situations, but have good conditions, is like shooting yourself in the foot. At a certain moment, you try to make sure everything goes well, not looking the other way but looking for solutions to things. In a very high percentage we all try to do that. It seems to me that one never thinks about past problems but rather about giving all players a chance and that with their football they give the opportunity to succeed.
Juan Cruz Real
Argentine, Former League Champion with America
It depends a lot on the problem that the DT has had with the player, but if it has to do only with work, to improve the relationship there must be, on both sides, a conviction of wanting to fix that situation-relationship between two human beings, before talking about DT or player. The desire and the intention to rebuild the relationship will have to prevail.
Francisco Stifano
Venezuelan, current coach of Rionegro Águilas
The coach must learn to differentiate what is a personal problem in football. Sometimes you are in different countries and that requires differentiating that, while the player surrenders you on the field you have to put everything aside. Soccer leaves you friends many times, but they don’t hire you for that, they hire you so that the performance of the team and the players grows. If that includes the player and he performs well, the rest takes a backseat.
Nestor Otero
Colombian, former coach of 14 clubs
I believe that no situation or conflict is eternal, there are situations that over time can be corrected, they can be corrected. If the coach is a person with ethics and the same player the same, the problems can be overcome. I think that if they are professionals and the player understands that it was a situation from the past, and that it can be corrected and overcome, there is no problem. It depends on the quality of people, the training they have and also on the psychological part of each one, because that influences the management of the emotional and interpersonal part of each human being.
2. What is the player seeking indulgence to do in practice, on and off the court?
Luis Fernando Suarez
World Cup player, current coach of Costa Rica
One never looks for indulgences, the player must show his soccer condition and make himself important to the team, that is what one values the most, regardless of situations of his behavior, or that one sees something to reproach. One will always look for a way to improve. Not indulgences but good solutions for the player and for oneself.
Juan Cruz Real
Former League Champion with America
You must behave the same as everyone else, when you have professional group goals, everyone has to get involved in the same way, you cannot ask for more or less, only the commitment to the group idea and that you are willing to contribute your maximum from your place. I do not think that if there was something with a player X he should do more, I am in favor of everyone in the group doing their best, that together the objectives are achieved.
Francisco Stifano
Venezuelan, current coach of Rionegro Águilas
The only way to get indulgences is to show and not talk. It is not apologizing or saying who I am, just as the leader imposes himself and does not force himself to be a leader, forgiveness must be manifested by actions and not words.
Nestor Otero
Colombian, former coach of 14 clubs
“When a player asks for an approach it is because he is being aware of the mistake he made and is asking for a second chance and the coach must understand, dialogue, listen to the soccer public and if he has to put some conditions for what happened, do not present himself again, You have to manage those situations because the players have a contract and one as a coach cannot dismiss a player for certain behaviors. That is why coaches today have to know a lot about psychology, a lot about group management, management of interpersonal conflicts between the players themselves or the coaching staff-players, together with the administrative part, all this must be managed to reach solutions in terms of conflicts that arise.
3. What weight do social networks, criticism, the press and all those external factors have in a manager’s decision to give or not a new opportunity to a player who makes a mistake?
Luis Fernando Suarez
World Cup player, current coach of Costa Rica
Social media, criticism, the press can sometimes weigh on something, but not on the most important decisions. In general terms, although my assessment is subjective, one will always have two paths: find a way for the player to improve and be good for the team; and almost always looking to give a player a second chance, regardless of the image they have on social networks. The team will always prevail.
Juan Cruz Real
Former League Champion with America
In my case they do not have any weight, the reality of conflict situations between a coach and a player is only known specifically by those two people or the group of players. Everything from the outside can be tried to suppose, to interpret, but reality is known indoors and, as it is, it does not have to matter the opinions that come from outside. The coach must be convinced of the decisions he makes.
Francisco Stifano
Venezuelan, current coach of Rionegro Águilas
In my particular case, I don’t deal with social networks at all. It is difficult to decide by what Twitter or Instagram say. We have it from day to day, journalistic opinion is important because it is part of football, but the final decision is up to one and part of the day to day that you have with your players.
Nestor Otero
Colombian, former coach of 14 clubs
In some technicians it can weigh, in others not. I know that Jurgen Klopp does not have social networks, he is not registered on Instagram or Facebook or Twitter, he does not handle that. I imagine that several coaches in the world, that already depends on each person and the handling they give to the subject. The player must also understand that nowadays the networks can favor or disadvantage their integration as a sports professional, because that takes a lot of time, you have to know what opinions are expressed and if it is really worth reaching conflicts for being giving opinions on social networks.
“That depends on the maturity of each person, today you have to know how to understand youth and put yourself in their shoes, young players today want to have social networks and the coach must be clear about his position in this situation , know how to understand and before entering into conflict, know how to dialogue, clarify the situation and that from then on there will not be conflicts again.
* With reporting from FUTBOLRED Bogotá, Medellín and Cali
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