“Reynoso died in his area: he lost trust, not respect” | OPINION

These are not seven, it is one. But one in particular. How are José Manuel Sabogal, the still General Manager of Alianza Lima, and the former coach of the Peruvian team, Juan Reynoso, different? To begin with, they are similar in something specific, the first, off the field, was commissioned to lead one of the main soccer clubs in Peru and the continent, the second, to lead the Peruvian team. Two positions, each from their own side, very important, for which they have been adequately remunerated.

The main difference lies in the fact that Reynoso showed that he is a football man, Sabogal did not. I’m going to explain. No one can question that to the former Cruz Azul coach. He is a man who breathes football, obsessed and meticulous. If he did poorly in the Peruvian team as a coach, it is because of his character and vision of the game that they failed to penetrate the national team. José Manuel Sabogal, for his part, was never linked to football professionally and his lack of mileage in the entertainment industry has and will continue to take a gigantic toll on Alianza Lima’s image and reputation after the blackout. Economically they will have to deal with seven months without the use of the Matute stadium and in terms of audiovisual rights with an ongoing arbitration lawsuit that could bankrupt the club. More than enough reasons to take responsibility and go to his house.

But the main difference is that Reynoso died in his area like the good defender he was. He put on a wooden face in front of journalists when they asked him if he was going to resign from the position and left everything in the hands of his representative to arrange his separation. He knows the world of football and played the cards in his favor. The average fan may hate him for that, but he respects him, the guy has principles. He remained firm in his position and at all times, he made it clear that “he and the team were capable of reversing the bad moment of the national team.” They did not accept his request. He lost trust, not respect.

Sabogal, for his part, has not accepted the errors in his administration, rather he found the exact moment, and resorted to the last resort, the worst of all, to cling to the position: he cried in front of cameras, supposedly admired by the passion they generate the blue and white fans. He did not do it in the sincerity of intimacy, with his family, for example, he did it in front of a television journalist, with the aim of causing pity? The fans since that moment have lost all respect for him. They do not identify him as the leader they aspire to for his institution. In both cases, continuity in office is unsustainable. But Reynoso did not bow his head. He left through the back door, but with his head held high. There he did, at least, he lived up to his position.

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