Following the match between Sporting Cristal and Flamengo for Copa Libertadores, Ricardo Gareca touched on the issue of the shortcomings of Peruvian football. Above all, he highlighted the little sports infrastructure that national clubs have. “If that is missing, it will be difficult to compete internationally,” he said at the conference.
Although he was not a favorite, Roberto Mosquera's team matched the Brazilians, who arrived with the runner-up poster of the tournament. Despite this, he ended up losing 2-0 at the National Stadium in Lima.
“Did you see the match Cristal played? And I'm not saying that to look good, but it was up to it. I think the result is unfair. He deserved much more. I don't see it as just the result. He competed as equals, he didn't deserve to lose.”
“Both Cristal and the U, in infrastructure, is the best there is. And I leave out Alianza, which needs a better infrastructure because of its greatness. All the same, it's not enough. Much more is needed.”
“The infrastructure will give us the possibility of having better players in every aspect. It will give us the opportunity to have strong and competitive teams. It will also allow us to sell players abroad accordingly.”
“Until that happens, it will be very difficult for Peruvian teams to compete at this level. The teams from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador... apart from the squad they have, are reinforced to win the Copa Libertadores.”
“Sporting Cristal has been strengthened as far as it could, but it hasn't brought what it really has to bring. Here they do the other way around: the budget is enough for them to win the championship, but not to strengthen themselves. They don't keep what they have and they disarm.”
“It needs me to transcend internationally. I sympathize with the clubs in the professional league because it is difficult for them to compete outside. And it's not because of capacity, but because another initiative is needed. There are many fundamental things that make you better.”