“With 66% of points in dispute, we are fully in the race in the Qualifiers” | INTERVIEW

– How do you evaluate Reynoso’s management in logistical and sporting terms? Would you say it was poor?

Why kill him? I just want to tell you that the results did not happen, but I think he is an excellent coach. He is a great person, unfortunately the results did not happen, and in football these things generally happen when the results do not happen, but I wish him the best in his next sporting projects.

– What did Juan Reynoso fail in?

Don’t know. You’d have to ask him.

– What has surprised you about Fossati’s methodology? Did anything particularly catch your attention?

Jorge is a very experienced coach, he has more than 30 years of coaching career and knows how to get the best out of his group. In fact, he has a track record of championships. I think his experience and wisdom will be very useful to us, from what I have been able to see these days, because there have only been a few days of training. I feel that there is a good atmosphere and the players are committed. Especially for us, as a federation with the fans, an illusion is being renewed.

-What special requirements has Jorge Fossati asked of you?

The gym was a requirement of the coaching staff who made a large financial investment on the part of the Federation to build an elite gym in record time. This gym was built in less than 40 days and is on par with gyms from the most prestigious federations and first-world clubs. That is a legacy that the technical command will leave to the Federation.

– Anything else? Rivals? Logistics?

We talk every day, since they made it official in the last days of December as a coach, we have very fluid communication. The relationship is very good and the work is flowing in the best way. Here there is a work team and a way of working so that things flow, more than specific requirements, it is a process of adaptation of both parties, both the coaching staff and us (Federation) and within what we had and the expectations that we they have, things are going quite well.

– Is there anything that worries Fossati, based on those conversations?

We talk about issues related to the national team, player summons, call-ups, upcoming friendly matches, planning, sports calendar. In tactical or team issues, I consider that the only person from the Federation who can sit at the table with Jorge Fossati is Juan Carlos Oblitas.

– There is talk of the friendlies in the month of June being in the United States, is that confirmed?

Yes, it is spoken. There are possibilities, it is not confirmed yet. There are many restrictions on playing matches in the United States. So we are evaluating some options together with the coaching staff and when these games happen, make the best sporting decision.

-And the rivals from which confederation would they be?

We have several options, so I prefer to keep it confidential, because once closed I can announce them so they don’t fall.

-When would the rivals for June be announced?

I don’t have an exact date, probably after these games, in the first days of April it would surely be prudent to be able to announce the rivals who are coming.

– Could Lima host the June friendlies?

Don’t know. It’s one of the options, it could be.

– There is a lot of criticism about Peru’s transition in choosing rivals: it went from playing against Morocco, Germany, Japan to playing against Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. As an authority of the Federation, what could you tell us about this?

It seems to me that there are moments to face all types of teams. Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic deserve the utmost respect, they are teams that have been playing against Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil. They are complicated selections. I think we would look bad if we underestimated our rivals.

– The Dominican Republic, for example, is having a policy of repatriating players in Europe with ancestry from that country.

Without specifying any player, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic are teams that have elements in good leagues and competitive teams. We would be wrong to underestimate these rivals.

– Today with Fossati can you believe that Peru can qualify for the World Cup?

In fact, hiring Jorge and his technical team as coach of the national team is looking for that, that is the objective. Although it is true that we are in a difficult place in the table, numerically we are very close to qualifying positions. There are still 66% of the Qualifiers left to play. With 66% of points in dispute, I think we are fully in the race.

– Fossati is much more open with the press and the press is the mediator with the fans, is that rapprochement being sought, something that was lost months ago?

It was a decision on the part of the Board of Directors, the general directorate of football, the president obviously, the hiring of Jorge, who came with a good present in his previous club and above all with an experience that supports him, experience in selection as I told you. previously and with an extensive record of achievements. So, I think he fit the need we had.

– Regarding the logistics of Peru in the Copa América, is there anything you can tell us?

That will depend a lot on the friendly matches we play beforehand. But from what I can tell you about the Copa América, a few days ago we were in the United States with Professor Avelino making the official inspection visit to the venues. The truth is we are pleasantly surprised. The United States is a country that is characterized by being a good host for organizing high-level sports competitions. So we were touring the venues where Peru is going to play. We are very satisfied with what we observed.

– Fossati said in a conference that he is seeing players of Peruvian descent in Barcelona and Sweden. Is Diego Koechen being watched?

There is an area of ​​the Federation that is in charge of these things, of monitoring and following up on Peruvian players abroad or of Peruvian descent. Jorge and his technical command are very aware of that. They would be responsible for giving you more details. I am obviously aware, but there is work and investment in the scouting issue and in minors with ‘Chemo’ at the helm. So we’re doing very well with that.

– Was Chemo del Solar’s continuity in Videna at any time in doubt?

Chemo is committed to the project. It is an important piece for the sports structure of the Federation. He is the head of the minor Technical Unit and is also the coach of the sub-20 team that will compete in the South American World Cup qualifier in 10 months. Furthermore, we take with great enthusiasm this announcement from FIFA that the U-17 World Cup will be held annually from 2025 to 2030. This gives us a great chance to qualify and find new generations that were lost in that space of It’s been a long time since there were World Cups every two years and I think good years are coming for our youth teams.

-How do you take this new position in the FPF, with the background of the great work of Antonio García Pye?

In a very natural way. I have been working for 7 years and I was responsible for the youth teams, futsal, beach soccer, women’s soccer and the only thing that changed is that the senior team joined, but there is still a responsible team behind each discipline and the work is the same . If I have to evaluate my work in recent months, I would say that it went very well, because when nothing comes out, it means that the work is good. This work is silent, it does not need constant approval, as long as it goes unnoticed, things are being done well.