November 6, 2024, 4:51 PM
November 6, 2024, 4:51 PM
Chilean forward Felipe Mora of the Portland Timbers, of the MLS, began training this Wednesday with the Chilean team, convinced of being able to contribute a good quota of goals against Peru and Venezuela for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and thus end a drought that troubles Chile.
“The truth is that I am in a good moment. I am very happy with my present, having scored many goals in the United States,” Mora said in statements released by the Chilean Football Federation.
The attacker scored 14 goals this season in the American league and was received by the Argentine coach, Ricardo Gareca, at the Juan Pinto Durán Complex in Santiago to begin his preparation in advance.
“I had the opportunity to talk with the coaching staff, about what they want, what they are looking for in me. We have to take advantage of this week because the season in the United States had already ended for me, so I am training to be on par with my colleagues next week,” he commented.
Gareca is looking for formulas to improve La Roja’s offense, which under his direction has only scored two goals in four qualifying games, which were scored by Eduardo Vargas, striker for Brazilian Atlético Mineiro.
“The forward position requires a lot of confidence, it is always very important to be converting,” he added.
Adding to these duels is key for Chile, which is in the last position in the table with five points, out of the 2026 World Cup qualification positions and seven points out of seventh place, the last place that gives access to the playoffs, now in the hands of Bolivia .
“We know that we are in a difficult moment, but I believe that important things can still be achieved and we hope to do so on these qualifying dates,” Mora acknowledged.
The 31-year-old attacker, who had not been summoned by Gareca, already saw La Roja in these qualifiers, but was on the bench when he was called by the previous coach Eduardo Berizzo at the end of 2023, precisely for the duel against Peru that was played in Santiago.
“A long time has passed since I came to the national team and I am very happy to represent Chile again. There are great players up front, I think it has been difficult for us in recent times, we just have to create the opportunities and be able to convert them,” he said.
La Roja faces Peru visiting Lima, on Friday the 15th, and Venezuela at home, on Tuesday the 19th, in the last double date of the year and with the need to add points after having lost the duels against Argentina and Bolivia in September, and Brazil and Colombia in October.
“They are two tough rivals, I think that on this qualifying date we need points and we are going to work to achieve it because I think there is a team, there are players and we hope to keep the points both there and here,” he stated.
They will be matches against direct rivals, Chile has one point difference with Peru, which is ninth, and five with La Vinotinto, which is in eighth place.
“That victory has been missing for a long time, which we hope will be given to us on this qualifying date,” Mora concluded.
