Peláez on Peru in the Qualifiers: “Paolo Guerrero is going to give us some surprises again”

Some say it’s no surprise that Jose Pelaez, or Peláez, simply put, is the most important host on Peruvian television this year. We disagree, honestly. It’s a surprise, yes, but it’s perseverance and hard work: since, as a teenager, he starred in “Mañana te cuo” or in his first radio appearances with Joanna Boloña. Peláez, the charismatic host of “El Gran Chef” in Latina, is an almost religious runner (with podcast included), a figure of the Adidas brand and a staunch fan of the Peruvian team, which he has followed for several years.

In 2017, the driver traveled to distant New Zealand to accompany a group of lucky fans who won a contest to see Peru in the playoffs for Russia 2018. Although we were evidently a minority in Oceania, Peláez was marked by the experience and from So, whenever you can and the agenda allows, accompany Peru everywhere. Because of that football passion that moves us all, we asked you this short questionnaire.

-What does it make you feel to accompany Peru from the stadium?

The truth is that watching the national team play is always very nice. The atmosphere generated in the stadium is wonderful and it is fortunate to be able to see Peru in these Qualifiers.

-This is a tie that, once again, will be quite long. What position would you sign for Peru?

At the end of the qualifying rounds, we are going to sign a sixth place. Being sixth, we went straight, right? We are going to the United States being sixth. But I hope we are fifth at least, to pass a little better. Already fourth perhaps, it would be difficult, but it would be beautiful.

-How do you see Juan Reynoso at the helm of ‘la Bicolor’?

Well, I think things are moving slowly, but I get the feeling that Gareca also started slowly, and there we saw what happened next (qualifying for Russia). When Gareca had already played several games, we didn’t have much faith in him, and things started to take off at the end, just before the World Cup in Russia. We were not yet classified, and out of nowhere, in that match against Ecuador (2-1 victory in Quito, September 2017) we began to regain faith. So anything can happen, and especially in this World Cup, where more countries qualify.

-Which of the Peruvian soccer players do you see with an outstanding performance in these Qualifiers? Any ‘covers’?

A cover? Oops, you caught me there. I believe that we are going to see our captain Paolo Guerrero shine again. I think that that illusion of seeing that Paolo, that we like to see when he is engaged in the games, when he scores good goals, when he shows his strength, I think that Paolo Guerrero is going to give us some surprises again, I want to believe that. And if you ask me then about a goalscorer, I think you already know where my answer is going.

-Do you see any team with less power to endure these Qualifiers? Any disappointment?

You would think the usual ones, right? Bolivia, Venezuela. Ecuador, how I wish Ecuador were a disappointment! But hey, the South American qualifying round is the most difficult of all, right? There are very good teams. Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Peru. So it’s complicated. This tie is going to be very difficult.

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