The progressive strategist is forceful prior to Tuesday’s game at the Morazán stadium. We are playing for the ticket to Indonesia 2023 against Panama, which comes from beating Cuba 1-0.
All the H does is think about the canaleros, and they are focused on achieving glory by playing the game of their lives.
This is how Honduras has qualified for the quarterfinals of the World Cup: how he has scored his goals, dazzling data and the scorer
This is how the conference started…
We have fulfilled what was expected in our work. The youngsters have risen to the occasion, tomorrow will be no exception. We are ready for battle.
Match against Curaçao and post game analysis
It was a complex game, since the warm-up the players already resented the three matches, Curaçao was already coming directly to the match. With Panama we are on equal terms with four games played, with the physical and psychological cost, with reprimands and muscular discomfort. Panama is a good team that has done a job. “Kill or be killed” is widely used in war and now is no exception.
How is the team physically?
I acknowledge the hard work of physical trainer Ariel Bustamante with professor Elmer Ortega and doctor Carlos Vázquez, as well as physical therapist Marcio Rivera with the collaboration of Agustín Mejía. They have done a marathon job, so far we have not had any cramps despite four games with a lot of rain or heat, with the exception of Isaac Castillo who has muscular overload, we are recovering from him and we will endure it until the last minute; If any change is necessary, it does not disrupt our plans at all. Today he continues to be given massages, as well as the necessary medical follow-up so that he is fit for tomorrow night.
Did you expect such a perfect start?
We work to be in these instances, which we did not know how to do. We conceded a goal until the fourth game, we have been affective in attack. It has happened in a good way, at some point the passage of Honduras is questioned and when you realize that of the four that were in group (H), three advanced to the quarterfinals, which gives you a guideline of how hard the games have been.
What are you preparing to do against Panama?
It is necessary to follow the same guidelines that have not led to these instances, maintain order, intensity and affectiveness in attack. We are not as colorful a team as the fans would like in terms of ball possession and passing sequences, but we are lethal when we go on the attack. Our order from the goal has been fundamental and we want to continue.
OFFICIAL: The teams classified to the quarterfinals of the Under-20 World Cup
Is it the game of a lifetime for the boys?
It is the game of life for everyone, because if the goal is not achieved, heads have to roll and the first one they are going to want will be the coach’s. Here we all risk our lives, they know that it is a before and after in their lives. They are 100% focused and motivated, they want to make their own story and tomorrow is the perfect setting to do so.
On what basis the tactical operation?
Our base system has been 4-2-3-1 with the 4-4-2 variant where we just shift the striker to the midfielder and put him horizontal instead of vertical. It all depends on our skilled players, we take advantage of those who are at their best and if we have to change to 4-3-3 there are also players to change the system. The most important thing is our game model, the system is already to take advantage of the available players.
Do you see yourself playing semifinals?
See you giving life tomorrow minute by minute. We had Panama for breakfast, Panama for lunch and Panama for dinner. My television doesn’t stop watching Panama’s games and studying their players to do my job of giving them as many players as possible.
What assessment do you have of the boys?
It has been a very important collective effort, it has been decisive that everyone has shed the “I” and put the team ahead, no matter who plays, those who play give their best and those who are behind support. Left-back Javier Arriega had played all three group games with good success, and Darlin Mencía replaced him against Curaçao. So having two players per position who play at the same level has been vital and takes the burden off the best-known players (Marco Aceituno, Isaac Castillo, Anthony García) for playing in the First Division. We hope that Aceituno solves it, he leaves, Jefryn Macías enters and scores three goals. That has made us very strong.
Luis Alvarado before facing Panama for the ticket to the U-20 World Cup in Indonesia
What did you not like about Honduras?
I’m happy, but not satisfied, no one will remember this if we don’t achieve the goal, we’re clear about that and we remind the players every day. What remains is to see, which I would not like to see either, how we are going to react to adversity. On Saturday we received our first goal and it was dead silence for everyone. We were winning and even so he fell very nervous and silent, now what will happen if we are against. That’s why it’s important to be focused for the 90 minutes because we want to hit first.
All the players have played except the substitute goalkeeper José Valdez.
Only he has not had minutes, and if he had started against Curaçao with the goal conceded they would say “what did they put it in for” and it is not like that, he is a good goalkeeper who waits for the opportunity and supports Jurgen García to do better, just as Jurgen does Better Jose.
The team has been strengthened by criticism.
Confidence has come from the work done, we receive criticism until it crosses the line of respect. I read and listen to what I can. I closed my social networks a week before because I feel that they go too far when they denigrate. I am respectful and I transmit the same thing to the kids that if you see them they don’t argue with the referees or rivals, we have few yellow cards and it is to rescue him.
