The largest shareholder of América de Cali, Tulio Gómez, uncovered his cards on ESPN’s F90. He referred to the departure of Juan Carlos Osorio, why Pompilio Páez will direct and gave names of technicians that he would like to have and cannot now, as well as others that are in the folder. The only thing that the manager is clear about is that he does not want a coach who imposes a rotation.
Regarding the departure of Juan Carlos Osorio and the agreement between the parties that took a couple of days, Gómez said that “we had a two-year contract, with a 3-month exit clause but that could be applied a year later. Taking it out before was very expensive, so it was time to negotiate with it. with Osorio there was never any mistreatment. Lately our dialogues were less warm, but that we hold on to the fusesNot at all”.
He also said that “I never addressed Osorio in an offensive way. I took it upon myself to write that but I did not say it was for him, but sometimes one is helpless because there are people who do not assume responsibility,” referring to the exchange of messages with the ‘mister’. Gómez clarified that Osorio’s hiring was never an “urgency” and that they had planned a relationship for 3 years or more. “Four technicians were in the pipeline and he was the most expensive, but we said he is the most prepared, a man of parchment, a scholar. We did a project with him but the results were not forthcoming.”
Tulio explained the reasons why the board decided not to bet more on the Osorio project. “The results did not come and America is a great team. You can’t afford not to be in all eight and you’re in line. Our roster isn’t the best in the tournament, but it’s not one of the worst either. We have not been able to have the entire payroll because Osorio left it in the bank or because they have been injured“He mentioned after assuring that the ‘Red Devils’ can fight for payroll after clubs like Nacional, Millonarios, Junior and Tolima.
And he took the opportunity to accept that he was wrong with Osorio, in what? “We didn’t think it was going to go so badly for us in terms of results. I think it was the most expensive coaching staff in Colombian soccer (…) For America it is an obligation to be among the eight and fight to be the protagonist. Maybe we were wrong because we didn’t analyze well that rotation that Osorio likes and we don’t have 22 top-level players, we didn’t realize that he plays attack and doesn’t defend, but a team has to be balanced”.
“When we hired Osorio we gave him carte blanche and he chose the players. We wanted to start strengthening the youth academy but we never tell a coach that he has to go out with such a youth squad, in the final matches he has to go out with all the players. They in their wisdom they know at what time they put it”.
When does the next technician arrive and what are the options?
América is in box 15 with 15 points and Tulio Gómez believes that they are on time to get on track. Therefore, he spoke of the urgency of having a coach who gets the points that Osorio missed. But what are they looking for?
“The next coach has to go out and propose, but be balanced and take into account the academy, but not play an important game with six academy players. You must also know how to manage the loads because we are having many injured“.
Among the possible candidates to lead America after Osorio’s departure appeared that of Alexandre Guimaraes, who won the 14th star in 2019-II. The manager stressed that the departure of ‘Guima’ was not considered “bad” but due to a salary disagreement in the midst of the pandemic. As he explained, they paid him his full salary until June but when he tried to make a 50% reduction, as they did with several coaches and players in the FPC, the proposal was rejected.
“The fans always ask the coaches who have awarded titles, they ask (Jaime) De la Pava, (Alexandre) Guimaraes (…) From Colombia I like (Alberto) Gamero, he is an excellent coach; I like Hernán Torres, Harold Rivera and César Torres, that I have been following him and I have told him to strengthen himself that one day he will come to America. I like Luis Fernando Suárez but for X or Y reason we do not hire. There are many candidates, there is Wilmer Cabrera. We have a portfolio of various technicians but we have to analyse,” he stressed.
Finally, the owner of the “Red Devils” said that he chose Juan Carlos Osorio’s assistant to direct Sunday against Millonarios because he has skills and thinks differently from the former coach. “Pompilio is from the same coaching staff as Osorio but he thinks differently. I spoke with him and told him to put the best, no rotation. I’m not going to make the lineup but I’m going to ask him to protect the defense.”