Néicer Reasco: The Ecuadorian team would be more comfortable at Atahualpa

In the opinion of Néicer Reasco, the Ecuadorian soccer team “would be more comfortable” at the Atahualpa stadium than at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado, scene of Liga de Quito, a club of which the retired soccer player from Esmeralda is a historical reference.

“I am a fan of the League and I love the League, but that should have nothing to do with the National Team. For me, we would be more comfortable in Atahualpa”, declared the ex-lateral on the radio station on Tuesday Huancavilca, Two days after the Tricolor receives Brazil at the White House for the fifteenth date of the South American qualifier for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Reasco, national and international multi-champion with the League from his debut in 1997 until his dismissal in 2016 (in between he had short stints at Newell’s in Argentina –February 2001-June 2001– and São Paulo in Brazil –August 2006-August 2008), was an international with Ecuador in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, in addition to the 2004, 2007 and 2011 editions of the Copa América, a time when the Tri was local at the Pichincha Sports Concentration stadium.

The National Team normally receives its rivals at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado since the present World Cup qualifying round. It has also done so at the Barcelona Sporting Club stadium, in Guayaquil.

‘The mentality has changed’

Reasco was satisfied with the national team led by Argentine Gustavo Alfaro.

“We wanted a change. This team started very well. We had setbacks, but later there were results that moved us and have us excited about reaching the World Cup”, added the man from Esmeralda in Huancavilca.

And he continued: “The mentality has changed (in the Tri). We have evolved in various aspects, with players like Pervis Estupiñán, (Piero) Hincapié, (Félix) Torres. Being in the National Team raises self-esteem. The good thing is that they are all young and at the same level. And that makes them fit together well.”

With 23 points in the standings after fourteen presentations, Ecuador can mathematically secure its ticket to Qatar in the matches of the fifteenth and sixteenth dates (antepenultimate) of the qualifier. Brazil will be the first rival, on Thursday, while the second will be Peru, next Tuesday in Lima. (D)