Leonardo González’s interim term in Venezuela ends with the promise of hiring a DT of ‘international hierarchy’

Another day. Another defeat. Dressed again as ‘Cinderella’ with 7 out of 42 possible points in the South American qualifier for Qatar-2022, Venezuela closed the internship of Leonardo Gonzalez as coach, with the managerial promise of announcing a new coach of “international hierarchy”.

José Pékerman, who directed his country, Argentina, in Germany-2006 and Colombia in Brazil-2014 and Russia-2018, is announced by the press as the chosen one to take command of the Vinotinto next year.

While the Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF) remains silent, it is a fact that González’s stage as interim ended on Tuesday with Venezuela’s 2-1 fall to Peru at the UCV Olympic Stadium in Caracas.

“My team and I were the first to want better results, we worked for that and we tried with everything we had,” said the 49-year-old coach in a letter he posted on Instagram this Wednesday, his farewell after leading the Llaneros for eight games, with a balance of one victory and seven defeats.

“However, there are many elements to highlight for the future; for example: the opportunity we give players to make their debut in the national team and thus show that there is replacement talent. This will be a fundamental factor for the work of the next coaching staff ”, he added, referring to the premieres of footballers such as Eduard Bello, Brayan Hurtado or Daniel Carrillo.

González, Deportivo Lara coach in the Venezuelan league, took over as coach last August in place of Portuguese Jose Peseiro, who terminated his contract after reporting a 14-month salary debt.

Peseiro hadn’t fared much better, with a win, a draw and four setbacks.

If he took the lead, Pekerman, 72, will have to think long-term, with a view to the 2026 World Cup, which will be organized by the United States, Mexico and Canada, since the Vinotinto is out of competition for places in Qatar-2022, sunk in the pit of the South American qualifier. There are no magic crystal slippers like in fairy tales.

The only country in South America that has never been to the World Cup will face on January 27 and on February 1 Bolivia – the team of its former coach César Farías – and Uruguay.

Argentina and Colombia will continue on the list in March to complete the World Cup calendar.

At the time, after the appointment of Leo González, the president of the FVF, Jorge Giménez, promised that a technician of “international hierarchy” would soon arrive, without naming names. González would lead three games in principle, but his interim term was lengthening.

A doubt is inevitable in the face of the reports on the possible arrival of Pékerman: do the finances of the local federation allow hiring the Argentine after what happened with Peseiro? (D)