Blackburn’s Brereton played in Chile’s last South American Cup and scored a goal in the season that led the team to the quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by hosts Brazil. After that, he was called up again by coach Martin Lasarte for the three matches in September of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, but his club did not release him.
“We will be looking for players under the rocks, whether in the United States, the United Kingdom or Zimbabwe, anywhere, because it is our duty, as long as he has the ability to join the team and be effective in the future,” he said in a group interview organized by the National Professional Football League in Chile. (ANFP).
However, not all recent discoveries have been successful. US striker Robbie Robinson, whose mother is Chilean, was called up by Lasarte for matches earlier this month for the qualifiers, but ended up giving up playing when he was already focused on the Chilean delegation.
“Of course, when Robbie Robinson arrived, something happened to him, and he wasn’t happy. On the third day, he couldn’t even train. Of course, I, along with the medical staff, made a decision and the best thing was for him to come home, and obviously he’s a good player. And he has potential,” the director recalls.
At that time, what happened was a post on the player’s Instagram, in which he said that he needed to evaluate the team he wanted to represent, the United States or Chile, and for this he decided to leave.
However, Kajigao today showed a letter signed by the player in which he resigned from the US team, in response to other reports accusing Chile of not having such a document.
“Of course, to represent a country, you have to be in the field for at least a minute. It’s a lie that we didn’t get this document,” he asserted.
The athletic director also defended his work on selection against criticism he had received from former ANFP advisers, such as German Korengia, who said he did not see it as “a plan, focus or direction”. Kajigao made a presentation to explain the areas in which he is working and in which he is involved.
Interaction in removers.
The coach also commented on La Roja’s position in the qualifiers, as the team occupies only the eighth place, with seven points, six points behind Ecuador, which comes in fourth, and Colombia in fifth. In the Triple Round in September, Chile lost to Brazil and Colombia and drew with Ecuador.
He commented, “We asked for more. Neither the players nor the technical team were satisfied. It is also true that we got important results, such as the Argentina match away from home or against Ecuador at high altitudes.”
“You can lose against Brazil, the important thing is if you’re going to lose, do it the way we lost, and create chances. You can lose to them, they haven’t lost any points against anyone. We can’t be satisfied with the first half.” in front of Colombia.
Anticipating the next triple round, in October, in which the Chileans will face Peru, in Lima, Paraguay and Venezuela in Santiago, Cajigao has made no secret of the goal being three wins.
“With those nine points we are in the fight, fifth or so, very close. Then, if we have to settle for fewer points depending on how the games develop, that’s football, but from our point of view we’re going to be nine. We have to be bold in our approach. And to go out to win.”
