Néstor Lorenzo: “We cannot compare James with Ruiz”

Nestor Lorenzo gave his second press conference since he was announced as technical director of the Colombian National Team and will debut as a permanent coach on the FIFA Date in September. Previously, he had been a technical assistant to José Néstor Pékerman in the most successful era of a coach in charge of the team.

Lorenzo gave the call for the matches against Guatemala on September 24 and against Mexico, on September 27. There will be two meetings to meet players, try variants in each position and evaluate which players are in the best conditions to start earning a place in the next calls.

James Rodríguez and Falcao García were two of those summoned. Jhon Arias was blocked, but he did not have a visa and players such as Juan Fernando Quintero, Duván Zapata, Jaminton Campaz and Yerry Mina were ruled out due to injury. He said he hopes Dimayor can change the dates of the BetPlay Cup final so as not to harm the Millonarios players.

He also said that he did not speak with José Pékerman before accepting the position in Colombia and that He hopes that Daniel Ruiz can be summoned in the microcycle of the FPC and in future calls. He reiterated that his scheme will be 4-3-3 with flexibility and variations, side exits and a compact team.

Why few FPC players? “It is the only FIFA date we have if the qualifiers start in March. The only opportunity we have to see those is in Europe because then they don’t lend them. Those of the FPC will be seen in the microcycles and maybe with local soccer players we will have the chance to play some games. That just. We want to see those in Europe that the clubs are obliged to lend them and we have the right to ask for them”.

FPC clubs asked you not to summon their players? “I had no conversations, they didn’t ask me for anything. We only talk about football and the players we are following. In those conversations the name of Daniel Ruiz was present, he has conditions, but we have time to put him to play. If I take it in this call I will not have the opportunity to have it in others. There are players who can give a lot to the group, I want to have them and the youngsters, we are trying to find different characteristics that give football to the team. No technician asked me for anything. I spoke with Alberto Gamero, whom I respect a lot. If any team feels harmed, it is always for the good of the player and Colombian football”.

Defense Renewal: “Of those I already know who have already played in World Cups are Davinson, who is summoned and Yerry is injured. It needs renovation in that area of ​​the field. There are other options but we decided on Andrés Llinás, who is an intelligent player and has interesting things for the position”.

Luis Díaz and his position in the National Team: “He is coming more through the middle and from the edge of the area, he is versatile, he can be handled in different sectors of the field and we are going to try to surround him so that the operation makes him better and not that the team’s backpack falls on the”.

Call for James, Ospina, Falcao and Cuadrado: “The idea is to help consolidate young people. They are important to leave a legacy. It has not been easy for the youngsters to consolidate and establish themselves as starters. This process takes time and their experience is essential”.

Main goal: “Build a strong, competitive, protagonist group that goes for everything everywhere. That is the vision we have. There is still a lot of work to be done, but we want an extreme attitude. We are going to give that as a line to the players. Let them aim high.”

Call for Álvaro Montero and his expulsion: “We have an experienced goalkeeper coach (Alejandro Otamendi), we detail each case and we believe that Álvaro is in a good moment and is the right one. In the expulsion he was wrong, it wasn’t that he hit him with a punch, it was instinctive. He knows it, we are going to talk about it but we have little time and we have to make the most of it and the decision was made to summon him and I hope he gives a lot to the National Team”.

Ruiz and James: “The message is that there are players. We can’t compare Ruiz to James right now. There are players who are important on and off the pitch and have given football a lot. James’s commitment makes him worthy of him being in the start, if nothing else. Ruiz is a player who has conditions, I like him, like many others, but I can’t have 40. I have to have 23 and I’m going to have 26. I want to meet the players and they’ll have time. Ruiz, Hinojosa and others”.

renovation: “Estupiñán, Durán and Carrascal have characteristics that combine well. They are in a good moment and despite the fact that they are said to be few, there are others who played less and it is not enough for them to be there. Players who have played for a while, I consider those as new. Those that are not new are those that have a long process. The others are new and they have to consolidate themselves in a group in which they can adapt well”.