World Cup 2022: Ayrton Preciado, another ‘rarity’ that Gustavo Alfaro did not explain: to Qatar with 31 minutes played in eight months

That the National Team is “everyone’s team” – a nickname that does not apply when it comes to accountability – is something that Gustavo Alfaro did not believe in and that the Ecuadorian Football Federation only uses for commercial purposes. Examples of that are easily verified. The FEF does not break its silence regarding the delivery of a technical report by the Argentine on the participation of the Tricolor in Qatar 2022, and the reasons for several strange decisions by DT are not clarified either.

It is not yet known why Angel Mena, lined up in 15 of 18 qualifying games, did not have a minute in the World Cup. Or what Kevin Rodríguez did to make Alfaro fall in love with football. Nor why did this Serie B attacker only 27 minutes in La Tri suffice to be included in the World Cup roster. Did Alfaro receive pressure to summon soccer players?

Not even whom the Peruvian press calls “the authorized voice” of Ecuafútbol, ​​which leaks information about the eventual hiring of Ricardo Gareca, has said anything about these issues.

What Rondelli said

Now, after statements by Miguel Rondelli, a new question arises: Was Ayrton Preciado fully recovered from a serious injury when Alfaro called him up for the 2022 World Cup? “I know that he is a player who has been recovering from an injury; I know that it has cost you. I think that now, shortly, he will have an intervention to remove some plates, ”said the DT of Emelec on Monday in ESPN of a possible incorporation of the 28-year-old from Esmeralda.

The Argentine coach of the electricians added from Preciado’s series of injuries, which reduced his games in the MX League to 57 in four and a half seasons, that “that out there makes his recovery slower.”

In February 2022, against Peru, Preciado suffered a fractured left tibia (according to the report of the Santos Laguna medical team) and was changed at minute 73, on the penultimate date of the World Cup. The prognosis was seven months of inactivity.

Half an hour and to the World Cup

That year Preciado participated in the first three days of the Clausura 2022 in Mexico (in January) and saw no more action in the tournament. Nor, according to the statistics of the specialized Transfermarkt portal, on any of the 17 dates of the regular stage of the Opening, a contest held in the second half of 2022.

The Ecuadorian reappeared with the Torreón team eight months after his injury: on October 17, 2022 in the league, against Toluca. His team was eliminated that day in the second leg quarterfinals. He played only 31 minutes. There were 34 days left for Ecuador’s debut in the World Cup, against Qatar (November 20). However, Preciado entered Alfaro’s final list with half an hour of play in Liga MX, since February of that year.

Alfaro did not mention him due to his physical condition, five out of six preparation friendlies on the FIFA dates, after finishing the tie. And against Iraq, at the end of Ecuador’s preparation, Preciado remained on the bench (on November 12, 2022).

In addition, Preciado was not key in the World Cup qualification process because of 18 games he was in seven, and in none of them did he complete 90 minutes with Ecuador. (D)