Still hurt by having stayed with Panama on the sidelines of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the Spanish-Danish coach Thomas Christiansen declared this Thursday that he is willing to sign the renewal of his contract as coach (it expires on June 30) because he wants to help improve the football of the country and classify it to a World Cup.
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“I don’t want to leave in this situation. I want to join the World Cup, achieving goals, leaving a legacy and improving Panamanian soccer,” Christiansen said during a press conference.
Laughing, the 49-year-old ex-soccer player said that to continue on the Panama bench “only one signature is missing.” Among others, he played for FC Barcelkona, Sporting Gijón. Osasuna, Racing Santander, Oviedo, Villarreal and Terrassa.
Prepare the debut in the Nations League
Christiansen also referred to the Concacaf Nations League match that La Roja will play on June 2 against the Costa Rican team at the Rommel Fernández stadium.
“There will not be much difference from the Costa Rica that we saw in the qualifying round (for the 2022 World Cup). They will not come to give anything away, nor will we, although we are a little hurt because that position they have taken was ours”, Christiansen said when alluding to the fourth place in the octagonal Concacaf final that gave the Ticos the right to play a playoff for Qatar.
Panama finished those World Cup qualifiers in fifth place.
Christiansen assured that the game “will serve to motivate the players” since they want to win the League of Nations and Costa Rica is the first hurdle they must overcome.
“There is a clear objective for this tournament and that is to get into the semifinal, and think about winning it,” added Christiansen.
