After the elimination, Gustavo Alfaro questioned his continuity in Ecuador and even spoke of a possible retirement

Ecuador he lost to Senegal, finished third in group A and was eliminated from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. It is a big disappointment, but this blow will also be a great lesson for his group of young players, as he said at the press conference after game Gustavo Alfarowho also referred to his future as coach of the Ecuadorian team.

“We expected to go far, this is a very young generation of players who have been fighting for two years. We hope it will serve as an experience for the future. This is a team with more future than present and we hope these battles will serve tomorrow”Alfaro assured.

Regarding the match, he analysed: “I said at half-time that if we wanted to draw and stay at the World Cup, we had to play football and engage in the game. It was what we did in the second half, which allowed us to equalize, handle the ball and play on the Senegal pitch.”

“I think in the first half it was more difficult for us to handle the ball because we fell under the pressure of Senegal. So they forced us to split up and run after the ball. And with their speed they made it difficult for us with deep balls” he added. Alfaro, the next one surprised to question its continuity stating that he still does not know what he will do in the coming months.

“Personally, honestly, I need time to know what I’m going to do in my professional career”he warned, also warning of a possible coaching retirement.

And before the direct consultation on whether he will continue to lead “La Tri”, Alfaro avoided answering, assuring that it was not “the time” to talk about his future, admitting that he is struck by defeat and elimination.

“I am taken by the pain that we all have for this elimination,” said the former coach of Boca and San Lorenzo, among many other teams. And he reiterated: “Personally I have to stop and see what I want to do with my career. If I want to continue directing or if I don’t want to continue”.

Alfaro joined the Ecuadorian national team in August 2020. From that moment he achieved a great qualification, where he finished fourth, with 26 points, and obtained a pass for Qatar 2022, with a team with numerous young players.

In Qatar, Ecuador got off to a good start with a big win against the organizer in the 2-0 opener, with a great performance and brace from Enner Valencia. Then they drew with the Netherlands and lost against Senegal.

Enner Valencia’s lament for elimination

“Unfortunately we have not been able to meet the expectations of our Ecuador”assured Enner Valencia, the team’s top scorer with three goals in Qatar 2022, after his elimination

In a broken voice, the 33-year-old forward continued: “We had a very difficult time. We didn’t expect it. We were very happy, very enthusiastic about what we were doing. Today we couldn’t achieve it. We apologize to all of Ecuador.”.

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