Néstor Lorenzo refers to Miguel Borja’s possibilities in the National Team: ‘He is going to compete; he has a lot of competition’

The coach offered a press conference – in Barranquilla – prior to the team’s trip to Washington, which will be tomorrow, in which he spoke precisely about the preparation that has been done, the friendlies, the undefeated record that the team maintains and, above all , of the criteria you will have to rule out two players who will not be in the Cup.
The curious thing is that Lorenzo came out to the press conference accompanied by one of his trusted forwards, Rafael Santos Borré, and just the day Miguel Ángel Borja arrived, who joined the team after a year of scoring at River Plate, with 22 goals, and the hat trick he scored on Sunday, goals that opened the team’s doors again for him, although it is not known if he will stay.

At least the presence of Borré seems like a declaration of principles from the coach: a forward who would not be in doubt. Borja is not a player like Lorenzo, he has often ruled him out, he did not even call him on the last Fifa date, despite the attacker’s good form, which raises doubts as to whether or not Borja will be on the final list. Lorenzo was consulted about the striker’s call.

“I have known Miguel since the time with José (Pékerman), and I always said that he was not a player that I had to watch because we knew him, but taking advantage of his good moment, we believe that he can contribute to the National Team what he does, that They are goals. Let’s see, he is going to compete, he has a lot of competition, I ask you, it’s okay to ask for players, but who comes out? One would like to have more and if I call 40, 41 is in disagreement. If one arrives, one leaves, keep that in mind,” Lorenzo told the press.

The coach himself, by his decision, has already left another forward, Mateo Casierra, out of this list, so Borja’s competition will be with area attackers like Jhon Córdoba, Jhon Durán and Borré himself, if the coach decides. dispense with one of the forwards.

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However, Néstor Lorenzo was clear regarding the questions from the press about the final list of 26 players who will play in the Copa América and pointed out that the decision will not be due to overpopulation in any position.

“With respect to the group, everyone is fine, they know that the final list for the Copa América has not yet been defined, precisely that same day that we play against Bolivia we must give the list of 26, and in case of any eventuality, we are going to wait until the last minute . The group knows that being here is already a source of pride for them. There are other boys who could have been there quietly, who are out for different reasons, physical or technical; and because of the competition that exists in a position,” said the coach.

And at the insistence, he returned to the matter, as they asked him what criteria he would have to rule out two players: “We have a microcycle prior to the Copa América, which are matches and you have to be prepared for any eventuality. God willing there are no injuries. I can’t say that the criterion is due to overcrowding in a position, that would generate speculation and I don’t want that, I want competition from the players, players who can cover more than one position. The final choice will be very fine. Today we don’t know, we have an idea of ​​a team, replacement options, of a system, but today the door is open for the 28,” he said.

For now, the National Team works in Barranquilla, and according to the coach, this first week has been about physical conditioning of the players, about equalizing the loads according to the activity they had in their respective clubs. The next step will be to play those two games that will be key, because, as Lorenzo says, he is not exempt from some injuries. “We are in a process where the beginning was essential in assembling the group, the players know it. So as we said years ago, we are going to face these games calmly, the first match is against the United States and we are going to play with the greatest seriousness and serious preparation as before the Copa América,” Lorenzo said.