Néstor Lorenzo focuses on the qualifying round and advises James Rodríguez: ‘Go where you can play and where the coach wants you’

Néstor Lorenzo still has a bad feeling about what happened in the Copa América final, which he came very close to winning with the Colombian national team. But he also has his mind on the qualifying round, where, in just over a month, the team will visit Peru in Lima and, then, will have the rematch against Argentina.

Conmebol announced this Friday the official schedules for the next double date of the qualifiers: Colombia will play against Peru on September 6 (8:30 pm) and then will receive the world champion, four days later (3:30 pm).

“I think we can improve some things, we can continue to grow, there are players with scores that we can talk about, the qualifying round is coming up and it’s difficult. The preparation for the match is one or two days, but when we have time to talk we can introduce some concepts that we can continue to grow individually and collectively. We’ve been in these analyses since the Cup ended,” said Lorenzo, in a chat with VBar Caracol.

Néstor Lorenzo’s advice to James Rodríguez about his future

Lorenzo referred to the subject of James Rodriguez, who, despite being the best player in the Copa America, has not yet decided which team he will play for. When asked if the ’10’ asked him for any advice on the matter, the coach replied: “James is looking for his future, his future club. As soon as his signing with a club is made official, he will let us know. He is a great player, if he asks me, we will talk. Where to go? Wherever he plays, where he has a leading role, where the coach wants him. That’s the only information I could give you.”

Lorenzo praised the players’ dedication during the Cup and their commitment for what is to come. “I think that with the boys, despite the bitterness of the defeat in the final, we left convinced that we are already committed for the next date. The team has shown dedication and absolute commitment. Then there is something, the fixtures, they will come with one game, with two, there are players who do not know if they will stay or not in the club where they were until June. The idea is to block as many players as possible to have room to choose and prevent anything that could happen,” he explained.

Regarding players like Falcao García and Juan Guillermo Cuadrado and their possibility of returning to the national team, Lorenzo said: “They are players who gave a lot to the national team and by competing they can reach a level at which they can continue to give, I never rule out either of them. They have a lot of competition, but by being active, they are always being watched and valued.”

Lorenzo has no news about a possible invitation to the Gold Cup in 2025. “I haven’t received anything official, just what I heard in the press. On the one hand, it’s good that they take us into account, it’s going to be a mini-World Cup, but it means that they value us. We’re focused on what’s coming soon, which is qualifying for the World Cup.”

On Friday it was confirmed that Bolivia will host the match in El Alto, at 4,200 metres above sea level. Lorenzo was asked about the possibility of forming two different teams when he has to play there. “We are studying it. We have not yet made a decision,” he insisted.

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