The mystique depends on the choice of players, but also on the chemistry of the chosen ones compared to the idea of ​​their coach

The (terrible) results of Alianza and Cristal in Libertadores only make the cycle bigger Ricardo Gareca. The contrast between eliminated Peruvian clubs and a peruvian national team that, for almost 7 years, it has been the top 5 in South America can only be explained from the resource management of its manager. More than a simple coach, Gareca has been an extraordinary administrator of that little universe of selected teams that Peru has. The “basic players” do not exceed 13 or 14, but on that the coach made a group, style and solidity. Quite a bit more than what Chile or Colombia, to speak of two that have more abundance of cracks, achieved.

Group mystique is not easy to find. It depends on the choice of players for certain roles, but also on the chemistry of those chosen against the idea of ​​​​their coach. And in that objective there are surnames that in these years have only grown tremendously under the system proposed by the coach: Gallese behind, Tapia in the middle and Cueva as the leading link. Gareca’s Peru could afford to change players, but that mini-column hardly changed. In fact, the versions of these three players are more solid today than those of four years ago, on that road to Russia 2018. Gallese is more a national team goalkeeper than a club goalkeeper, Tapia looks confirmed as the captain without a belt and Cueva has kidnappings from Maradon. they force apologies from their trolls. That the three are okay, added to the hope of scoring that Lapadula supposes today should be conditions to dream on Monday 13.

Emirates or Australia? No one says it out loud, but everyone would prefer those from Arruabarrena. The Australians appear more rocky in defense and punctual in attack, as well as more experienced in these fights. In any case, if we trust Gareca’s judgment for seven long years, it would not be necessary to doubt him just at this limit moment. We are talking about a coach who, since his arrival, played 4 Copa Américas and 2 Qualifiers and never lowered us from fifth place in the region. There is no chance but causality in numbers of such an epic. Gareca’s legacy will be safe, whatever happens. To paraphrase a tarmac poet, if we lose, he will still be the best coach we’ve ever had. If we win, he will be eternal.