Yesterday the national coach was invited to “Este Lunes”, a program conducted by Jorge Ortiz. Luis Fernando Suarez talked about his expectations for this World Cup as well as about the players called to the national team. In the program which lasted 1 hour, Suarez answered many of the fans questions via phone calls and shared comments and opinions with the argentinean coach Jorge “chino” Benitez.
At the beginning of the interview Suarez asserted that everything is already planned out for the national team’s participation in this World Cup. “Our first objective is to qualify to the second round” Luis Fernando said; to which Ortiz replied “Is that what we are aiming for?” Luis Fernando answered emphatically “No, we’re aiming higher! When one goal is met, there will immediately be another one to meet”.
Suarez commented very optimistically that it is possible to beat Germany, Poland and Costa Rica and that way go on to the second round “to achieve this it’s necessary to have a good core, a good and important human substance and Ecuador has it”. Ecuador’s national coach affirmed that collectively the team is very strong and as a matter of fact they have been playing this way for 12 years and the players like it and have become use to it.
Before asking the following question Ortiz said it might be an “ugly” question and it had to do with if the situation related to Vinicio Luna, Patricio Maldonado and Luis Castro would affect the National team’s performance in this coming World Cup. “It doesn’t affect us, yet we do regret this situation”, said Suarez. He then completed this idea by quoting what one of the players had said: “Look coach, if we are eliminated during the first round, you can be sure that the excuse won’t be that it’s because of Captain Luna’s situation”. “This assures me that the group is doing well mentally” Suarez concluded.
As far as the players called to the National team goes, Suarez referred to Valencia as one of the players who worries him a little because he hadn’t been competing. Whereas the “veterans” such as Ulises de la Cruz don’t worry him much being they have had experience in Europe. Concerning Kaviedes, Suarez commented that people tend to maximize the problems he’s had, but in what is strictly related to soccer, he is a player who makes the difference as soon as he enters the field.
Regarding discipline and mainly referring to Jaime Ivan Kaviedes the coach said that they would be very strict with him. “If he does anything different to what is expected, I already told him and the president, 22 will travel to Germany and not 23”. Even if we are already in Germany and he makes a mistake, Kaviedes will be sent home.
Among people’s concerns and questions the question was brought up as to whether the players would be allowed to have sexual relations during their stay in Germany or not, to which Luis Fernando Suarez replied that they would be allowed to do so. “There will be determined times though because the team will have to be concentrated and they won’t be able to go out; but there should also be a balance and times when they can go out”.
About him staying as the National team’s coach after the World Cup Luis Fernando mentioned that there have already been conversations with the president of the federation to continue with the job. “The idea is that the federation wants to continue and so do I”, Suarez stated.
In regards to the national players who are playing in foreign teams Suarez said that “they are still falling short. They must hold on more, be stronger. They have gone but have returned almost immediately”. If a player goes abroad and right away wants to return to Ecuador, I myself will send him back to Europe!
At the end of the interview, Jorge Ortiz wished Luis Fernando Suarez the greatest success as he coaches in his first World Cup in only 24 days when they play Poland on June 9th.
