Juan Carlos Osorio has been out of the spotlight. The departure of América from Cali and his silence has sparked all kinds of speculation. The objectives and results condemned him, so the scarlet directive finally decided to remove him from office.
Risaraldense spoke of his departure not only from America, but from Nacional at the time. In addition, the desire and what he would like for the Colombian team, with the ESPN F90 program.
National and American departure: during the pandemic we were first, the project looked good. One day, the board decided to leave Daniel Muñoz, we were badly unemployed. A player who was a striker, a scorer of eight goals for a defender is rare, he did it as a midfielder, in a line of three and five. I couldn’t interpret it.
In the last tournament in America, history repeated itself. The club made the decision to leave seven players in ten months, that is devastating. At the end of the day and in conclusion, to make a good sports project, there are three points: make great contracts, as in South American soccer, with players who return to make great participations, with soccer to compete for several years.
As in Argentina, there they repatriate players to compete at the highest level. Case of Licha López. Gradually, the player is diminishing, but it is an example. We need that in Colombian soccer.
Here we believe that the only one we can repatriate is the one who is 36 or 38 years old. If you want a good shot, you should look at 32, for a good career shot. When América decided to leave Yesus, Carrascal was not my competition. Already when they resigned Duván Vergara, Santiago Moreno and later Andrade and Ortiz and Batalla, there it is difficult to compete without players. At the end of the day there are brave and very brave coaches. Some of us play offensively with what is available. It is the idea that I believe and defend.
I consider myself a proactive technician. I am one of the training coaches, who believe that I have to mold myself to the players and characteristics. Do not expect the coach to tell the players what to do, because the game belongs to the players.
Error will Nacional return: it is necessary to clarify, I will be eternally grateful to Nacional, it is a great institution. They gave the option to express the idea of the game that we believe, offensive, purposeful. What I meant is that one does not return where he has already won so much. It is impossible to repeat it, it would be a feat. I was wrong thinking I would do it again.
Desire to lead the Colombian national team: analyzing the change that the great national teams have given, in the case of Germany and Italy, it is worth using them as an example. We remember the Italy that won in 1982, that of Tardelli. Today, Italy has innovated, but not changed. Colombian soccer must innovate. Italy has central midfielders like Insigne, Verrati, despite that, they were left without a World Cup. They insist on improving their style of play.
Another case is Uruguay. 12 years ago they had Gargano. Today they have Vecino, Valverde, they went to the World Cup. My request is that in Colombian soccer we innovate, we improve our style of play. It’s okay to play defense-attack transitions to a stopped ball. But there are other contexts where we need to be more proactive. Play more in the opposite field. You have to define the zonal or magic squares. We continue to think that we have a great league and that we are competitive, but in international football it is something different.
The theme of the selection, I’m never going to bend down to that theme. As a coach and trainer, the great change in our football is training, as in any context. From the sports point of view, it is the training of our players, it must be as Díaz did, in the open field in La Guajira. Modify and structure that street football from which we can benefit.
Here we have to make a structure where training is imposed. It would be more beneficial for Colombian soccer to produce and consolidate players like Díaz, as a result of a structured plan. Today it doesn’t exist, there isn’t a high-level under-17 tournament where players train.
The structure should be, with few exceptions, a national under-17 tournament, under-20, reserve tournament and a professional team. Over there is the B tournament, which replaces the reserves. When I speak of participating in the selection process, it does not imply that I want to give myself away. As a Colombian, I want to contribute to football. If it is due and pertinent, I do it for free, I do it. I am willing. All I want is for our football to improve.
Because in the scenario of each game and context, there will be the opportunity, probability and opportunity to play direct or a passing game. We cannot give up the passing game, because there are players with enviable technique. In some contexts, against whomever, go to compete with possession, long sequences of play. That is my request. It is not because he pretends to be right.
If we are given that chance, I will be the proudest man in the world. I know that they do not consider me now, I will make my life, I will look for opportunities and I will see what life brings us.