“Peru has a number of players that make Cueva different”

Probably Peru is facing the most important and difficult game in a long time. For the rival (Uruguay, fourth place, to one of us), stage (the mythical and imposing Centennial of Montevideo) and context (the one who wins will practically be in Qatar 2022). This Thursday, the Bicolor is played for more than three points in the Qatar 2022 Qualifying; but also the combined Charrúa. And he knows that very well William Sanguinettiformer Uruguayan defender and coach who directed Lima Alliance between 2014 and 2015 and is currently in charge of Delfín SC of Ecuador. The ‘Topo’ spoke with DT El Comercio about the Peru vs. Uruguay and the importance of having christian cavehis expupil, in football fullness.

—How do you imagine Uruguay vs. Peru on March 24?

After having their problems, Uruguay entered the fray with two wins. Therefore, for us and for Peru it will be an important, decisive game. There is a lot of expectation and there will be a lot of pressure too. From the start, inside the field and outside, players and fans. It will be a packed stadium.

—After the departure of ‘Maestro’ Tabárez, did you trust that Diego Alonso was going to put you back in the World Cup zone?

What happens is that many times these changes happen in football and Diego Alonso has done very well in terms of results, something that brought back the expectations of qualifying for the World Cup. I’m not saying that they didn’t have them before, but there had been a series of complicated matches where they couldn’t score points. That change of hand took place and it has been important to achieve what was achieved.

How is the Centennial? What awaits Peru on Thursday?

It will be a full stadium, full, with fans waiting for the team to put Peru inside their goal from the first minute. It is what the Uruguayan fan always feels and wants, and even more so now that such an important match is being played. On the other hand, Peru has arguments to hide the ball from him and hurt him when he can. If Uruguay does not have balance, it can get complicated. It will be a reserved forecast match. I have friends, relatives, who think that in this match the national team will qualify, but no. I see the Peruvian team very well, with a structure built for many years, with players in a long process. That is very important, it weighs.

—Unlike other stadiums in South America, the Centennial stands are a bit far from the field. Does that influence the game when it comes to feeling the breath of the fans?

But more than anything, it’s a feeling. It would seem that it was far away, but when the stadium is full it gives the feeling that the stands are closer. I still think that at the national team level, with players who have played in a World Cup, they don’t feel that pressure. More than anything it is a mental injection for the local player.

—How much does it affect Uruguay that Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani, the banners of this generation, arrive without continuity in their clubs?

It is very important that they have continuity because beyond being important, they are players who need, due to their age, to play and not lose pace. They are referents of the selection within the field and also from the emotional point of view. It affects a little, but you can’t leave them out.

—When he directed Alianza Lima, Ricardo Gareca took over as coach of the Peruvian national team. How have you seen the growth of this process?

I remember that we had a meeting in those first months that he arrived in Peru and we talked about players that we had in Alianza at that time and he wanted to see. Without a doubt, Ricardo put together a successful process, went to the World Cup and managed to fight for the Copa América. He has given an identity to the Peruvian team and that is highly valued.

—Was one of those players Christian Cueva, the midfielder who played in Alianza and today is Peru’s top scorer in these Qualifiers?

Cueva was a different player already. He showed it game by game, playing at that time with Gabriel Costa. They understood each other very well. He had a talent that one knew that, with continuity, he could be in the national team. Later, already being summoned and with international touch, he was empowering himself more and more.

—What did the Cueva of 2015 have that did not allow him to explode as a footballer?

Let’s not forget that when he came to Alianza, Christian did not have much continuity in Europe. He lacked that rhythm of the game that he was taking in the local championship. He showed that he had that level of selection since he had a good start in his career, that’s why he is where he is.

—Is Christian Cueva the best player in this qualifying process?

Peru has a number of important players that makes Cueva different from the team. There is a structure behind him that supports him and a functioning that enhances him so that he can make a difference in attack.

—Not only did he enjoy Cueva’s talent, he also suffered from his misunderstood conduct back then. What happened before the 2014 Clausura final that made you leave the starting team?

Well, it was something that happened, I will not give details. But at the time he apologized to me. It is something that happens on campus and one as a coach must take certain measures regardless of who the name is. He stayed there and, beyond that, we didn’t have any other problems and we kept going.

—Was it a decision that cost the Clausura?

First of all, it was a strange championship because there were three tournaments, of which we won one (Torneo del Inca) but it did not give us the chance to fight for the national title, which did happen the following year because they changed the rule. Regarding the final, they made us go to Arequipa to play. Cueva entered that match, but little could be done. But ultimately they are football circumstances that make one have to mark things as they are. Then we continued with the team and reached the final of the Inca Tournament the following year.

—You brought Gabriel Costa from Uruguayan football and today he is summoned by Ricardo Gareca…

It makes me very happy because having brought a player that not many knew. I had him during my time in Bellavista, I had seen him play in inferiors and having bet on him means that I was not wrong in terms of the conditions he had. In that first year with Alianza, although he was a bit resisted by the fans, he ended up being the team’s top scorer. Afterwards, everything else is a virtue of himself, how he grew as a footballer and now he is being called up by Peru.

—It is not the same case as Costa, but Gianluca Lapadula joined the Peruvian national team at the age of 30, in the midst of uncertainty due to not finding a replacement for Paolo Guerrero. How did you see our ‘9’?

Since Paolo Guerrero was not there, Peru needed a reference in the area and found it in Lapadula. That has been a great success. He plays very tactical football like Italian where you have to have very clear concepts, but he also does the dirty work against the defenders, fighting for each ball or pressing. It has been like a miracle to have found a player like him.

—Pablo Miguez is another player who brought Alianza Lima. A leader who in his first stage earned the respect of the fan, but last year he entered the club’s history as champion…

-Pablo is a player with all the characteristics to be a leader, a reference, because his personality indicates it that way. When I brought it to Alianza, that was my idea, to have a steering wheel with those characteristics and over the years it continues to be maintained.

—How complicated is it to manage bad times and results in an institution like Alianza?

The big teams with the fans that Alianza Lima has, which is the largest in the country, there are always results. Sometimes it happens that there can be irregular or bad moments and personality is needed to change and turn the helm.