“Ricardo Gareca reminds me of Tim for his people skills and for his wisdom” | OPINION

If we add the credibility of the presidents of Peru of the last thirty years, none reaches Ricardo Gareca. He is not only a strategist, but someone who changed the mentality of Peruvian soccer. After 36 years he achieved what Maturana or Markarián could not. And he did it calmly, believing in players that no one believed in, and bringing the team closer to the fans. If it were up to me I would keep it in the peruvian national team until you decide to retire.

It is because of him, because of his technical command and because of Juan Carlos Oblitas that, despite being a country where our clubs have not qualified for the round of 16 of a Copa Libertadores for a decade, today we are two games away from qualifying our second consecutive World Cup. And if we succeed, it will be two generations that have enjoyed seeing their country in the elite of football, and not like so many others who have seen the national team beaten. I took my son Juan Carlos, the eldest, to Spain in 1982. He was only four years old. He doesn’t remember anything. Over the years, his resignation for not qualifying for the World Cups grew until Russia 2018 happened. Today he is one of the most fervent fans of the national team. And there are so many.

Ricardo has a gift that is lacking in football: he speaks frankly. Each player who has not continued in his process has been removed alone. And boy, does he know how to convince. Cave is the best example. He has gone from being the most resisted to the most loved. But also Carrillo or Oreja Flores who they already wanted to put aside, when he is the one with the important goals. Who knew where Marco López was? The same Peña or Callens: they were one more. All of them have been his bets.

Ricardo reminds me of Tim for his people skills and for his wisdom. They are one of those people with whom you can spend hours and hours talking about football, and you always learn something. If his image will wear out like old Tim did after Spain 82? I do not believe it. He has a much broader back. Not all stories have the same endings. And this team deserves a happy ending.