Renato Paiva: When I hear that Michel Deller manages the Ecuadorian national team, I better laugh so as not to cry

“I better laugh so I don’t cry!” That is what Renato Paiva, technical director of Independiente del Valle, says he does when he hears that Michel Deller, director of the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) and former principal of the Pichincha club, “manages the National Team.” The Portuguese strategist has also denied that he ever received “orders to put players” by the businessman.

“When I hear that Deller manages the National Team, I better laugh so as not to cry,” Paiva declared this Wednesday on the program Area 88, from Active Radio.

And the coach added: “To the Copa América (Brazil 2021, among the striped ones) it was only (José) Hurtado and he hardly played. Now there is only (Moisés) Ramírez. I do not understand anything!”.

Deller, who has been a director of the FEF since January 2019 and served as vice president until September 2021, has not separated from Independiente during his time as leader of national football. Last June, after attending a Los Rayados game against Emelec at the George Capwell Stadium, he already apologized for his “passionate behavior” when the Pichincha team played.

Paiva, for her part, went further in her speech: “I swear on my daughter’s health, which is what I love most in the world, I never received orders to put players from Deller, Tello (Franklin, president of Independiente), Morales (Santiago, manager), Roggiero (Luis, former sports manager), or anyone. Can you imagine Deller doing that with Alfaro (Gustavo, Tri coach), who has more experience than me?

The Portuguese has directed Independiente since 2021, the year in which he was champion of the LigaPro Serie A by defeating Emelec in the final (round-trip). (D)