Gustavo Varela on duel against Peru: “Uruguay responds to pressures”

A few days after the match between Uruguay vs. Peru for the penultimate date of the Qatar 2022 Qualifiers, a former Charrúa World Cup player named Gustavo Varela, who was a goalscorer and lethal in the area, takes time to talk to Infobae about what this match will be for both teams, who are very close to reaching the World Cup.

The former teammate of Jefferson Farfan in Schalke 04 discusses with us what will be the duel on Thursday, March 24 between Peru vs. Uruguay at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo.

“I think that the match is going to be very close, apart from the fact that Uruguay has improved a lot with the change of coach, the philosophy of play that is being bet on, with the characteristics we have as players and the system applied by Diego Alonso is perfect, since it is very suitable, to what they play in Europe, but let's not forget that Peru is a Very tough rival, it comes from many years of playing together and I think Gareca has found Peruvian philosophy and made it a very tough and versatile team,” Gustavo Varela told Infobae exclusively.

The current Liverpool training coach of Uruguay, was asked if he dared to give a forecast of what would be the match on Thursday, to which he replied the following: “Today, since the home or away qualifying matches, one cannot predict a previous outcome because the matches constantly give you surprises. This is a final for both of us, but Uruguay is used to playing this type of match and as a Uruguayan my heart is on that side and I want Uruguay to win and qualify for the world cup, but I know that we have a very tough and experienced rival at the front,” he added.

When asked about the absence of Jefferson Farfan and Paolo Guerrero, who were not called up by Ricardo Gareca, coach of the Peruvian National Team, because both players were in the last recovery from their injuries, Gustavo Varela gave his impressions about it. “Peru is losing a lot because they are both great players of experience. I think they are the soul today Guerrero more than Farfan, because of the continuity it has had. Jefferson is a great player, excellent attacker and we don't discuss what Paolo Guerrero is. I think they are losing a lot, since it is the same thing that they take Cavani or Suarez out of us in Uruguay. The defender looks at you differently, knowing that Farfan and Guerrero are not playing, I don't tell you to let go, because other players play who are for a reason on the Peruvian national team and are good. But Uruguay has a small advantage there,” Gustavo Varela told Infobae.

18 years ago, Peru struck the blow in Montevideo and beat Uruguay 3-1, in a duel scheduled for the 2006 World Cup Qualifiers, Gustavo Varela was in that match and reminds us of what happened. “I have to live from the bank, I don't remember well, that match that you mention was won by Peru, when Professor Jorge Fossati took the reins, but it is always important to become strong at home and I think that Uruguay respects his house, if you look at history, he has lost very few local matches and most of all check the statistics in decisive matches, and we are playing a final for a World Cup. People are living it in an incredible way because hours after extending the sale of tickets they sold out. There is a reference to the euphoria of the Uruguayan public”, he said.

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