Marco Antonio Figueroa reappeared. Now as DT of the Nicaraguan National Team, ‘Fantasma’ analyzed the present of Chilean soccer: “The rejection that the Chilean leaders have of the national coach hurts me,” he said.
In dialogue with ESPN, Figueroa explained their differences with a vision that, in his opinion, predominates in Chile: “The bottom players in Chilean soccer have foreign coaches and those on top are all nationals. It’s hard for me to understand how they think there, ”she assured.
“We have had bad moments, but in the U I did quite well with what I had. With Católica I fought a tournament that Colo Colo won for me in a stadium that was not ours. I saved O’Higgins twice from relegation and was one goal away from qualifying for the Copa Sudamericana. I have merits for other things and not just saving teams”, he added.
In that last line, “Fantasma” Figueroa revealed a dream that he could not fulfill: “I would have liked to direct the golden generation because I think the performance would have been better than they had. If you want to win a race, you have to have a good horse. You can’t win a race on a donkey and Chile has failed in the election for the last eight years.”
“Any coach who arrives (in Chilean soccer) and if he doesn’t have (Marcelo) Bielsa’s school, he is not considered good. If he recorded Bielsa’s games, you’re already directing. If you bend down and squat, you are already a student of Bielsa and you will do well. In Chile you don’t see the way of playing, results and squads, ”he added.
The Nicaraguan coach also left a reflection on his relationship with the country: “I was tired of going to Chile and not having the repercussion that I did not have elsewhere. Nobody is a prophet in their own land”.