A new stage in the career of Marcelo Gallardo is already underway. After his departure from River and several months away from working as a coach, the Muñeco set off for Quito to begin his tenure as the National Team of Ecuador, in what will be his first experience coaching a national team.
Before boarding the plane at Ezeiza International Airport, the coach spoke with the media present and shared what led him to accept a proposal he had received in the past. "This is a completely new challenge for me. I have always been curious about being able to coach a national team. I think it came at a time when I was eager to return to work, this opportunity presented itself two years ago, before Beccacece, and at that moment I was not in a position to take on that challenge. Today it presents itself, and I am eager to have a completely different challenge in my life as a coach", stated Gallardo.
The former River coach also highlighted one of the main reasons that ultimately convinced him: the potential of the Ecuadorian squad. "The very good generation of footballers they have really awakens significant enthusiasm in me. Young players, with talent, currently active and present in European teams. Others with enormous potential to continue developing, and that combines with the desire to take that big step to try to enhance ourselves", he said.
On the other hand, Gallardo sought to calm the expectations generated by his arrival and avoided discussing immediate objectives. "I haven't arrived yet. The idea is to build a team that the Ecuadorian people feel totally identified with, and that has its process. It is true that there is potential and footballers to take a step further, we are going to start a long process, hopefully, and that it will be with a good sense, that has something behind it to support it: a good structure for that to happen. That doesn't happen overnight", he explained.
In that same vein, the Muñeco valued the growth that the national team has had in recent years and considered that there is a foundation on which to build. "There is a general enthusiasm, beyond some expressions I have heard and received from the players. That awakens enthusiasm in the players, in myself, and in an Ecuadorian people who want and hope that their national team can take that big step forward in its history. They have been doing well, having good participation in the World Cups, Copa América, and Qualifiers, they have set a good pace in their growth", he noted.
The coach also mentioned that he will analyze the scenario ahead in the upcoming Qualifiers and the particularities of the next World Cup. "We will see how the Qualifiers process will be, see if more countries will participate in the next World Cup. That will depend on the quality of the competition. We will see what we will face", he affirmed.
The coach will arrive in Quito accompanied by a good part of his coaching staff, although he will not have Matías Biscay, his historic assistant. During this Thursday, he will hold his official presentation and begin to outline the next steps for the national team, which will make its debut in this new stage during the next FIFA date, where they will face South Korea on September 24 and Japan on October 1.
