Christiansen: "My ambition is to take Panama to the World Cup"

More than a year ago, Thomas Christiansen embarked on a new adventure as a coach and on a continent where he had never trained before. The Spanish-Danish got down to work to find out everything about Panamanian football. The technician talks to Ace about his learning, the great moment he is going through with the Panama national team with the possibility of being in the Qatar World Cup, about its future and his love for Barcelona.

How did the opportunity to coach Panama come to you after only coaching in Europe?

The offer comes from my Wasserman agents. I dissociated myself from the Belgian team -Royale Union Saint-Gilloise- and they see that there is a vacant position in the Panama national team and decide to send my resume without consulting me because I had previously mentioned the issue of directing a selection to them. From one day to the next, the Panamanian Soccer Federation tells us that I fit the profile. We started talking for a while to arrange a meeting and thus present an analysis of the selection and of Panama. In the end, I was chosen as the coach.

He has been in Panama for more than a year and already knows the level of Panamanian football well. What evaluation do you have?

My assessment is very positive. At first there were doubts because they usually hire local coaches or from nearby countries, such as Colombia or Argentina. For them, I was a different bet and the result is being good. I am very happy to be the coach of Panama.

Thomas Christiansen is becoming one of the stars of Panama, and he has hung up his boots for a long time. Has he set out to make history with the national team?

Little by little we are achieving historical results. For example, the biggest victory in the history of Panama was achieved in the qualifying rounds before qualifying for the Octogonal against Anguilla with a result of 13-0 in favor. We also managed to beat Costa Rica as a visitor after many years without doing so and never twice in a row. Everything is going very well but you have to keep your feet on the ground.

Can you dream of being in Qatar?

Dreaming is free. Our ambition is to be in the second World Cup for Panama and we are working to achieve it. We have our options with six games to go and we are fighting Canada, the United States and Mexico. Below us is Costa Rica with 5 points less and we played against them in January.

What was it like to win the United States at home?

The United States and Mexico are the favorites of the Concacaf group. Against the Mexicans, for example, we tied at home; and we beat the Americans (1-0). We made history again because they had never won a tie against the United States in Panama. The Panamanian people have been able to dream and have illusions of something else.

Panama is capable of anything and even going back to Honduras. What did you transmit to the boys at halftime to start the comeback?

Try to stay calm and correct situations on the pitch, rather attitudes because when things are done well we are capable of anything. In the second part they put us the second and I decide to make a triple change (Fajardo, Waterman and Yanis). The three entered very plugged and eager to try to turn the result around. Everything went well because two of the three changes scored a goal, but all three intervened directly. The reaction was important.

In January the games against Costa Rica and Jamaica are played. Can they be decisive for the classification since then the 3 coconuts would come?

The next game is always the most important. It is the typical phrase that players and coaches say, but the truth is that it is true. We cannot look beyond the next game and we are preparing to play against Costa Rica. Now a three-game tie will begin – Costa Rica, Jamaica and Mexico – and at the end there will be nothing decided because until mathematically there is no team discarded and their classification secured we cannot get any more ideas. In Concacaf you see few victories away from home and, therefore, you have to give it a lot of value when you draw or win away. We have an obligation to win at home.

There is a lot of talk about his future with the Red Tide and his contract ends in December 2022. Do you plan to remain united with Panama?

I think about the immediate future and I am very comfortable because I am enjoying being the coach of Panama. I love the country, how football is lived and breathed. I am very excited to do things well and there is no telling what may happen in the future.

Do you follow the news of the Spanish League?

I see it little compared to what I would like to see it. First because of the time change with respect to Panama and, secondly, you have to follow the news of my players and watch many games. You have to be reporting on their work, its evolution and the problems they may have with their teams. This takes time away from watching LaLiga.

How do you see the situation of Barcelona?

Barça will always be Barça. He must be taken into account for the title although now he is in a complicated situation and more so after the loss of Lionel Messi. Now there are other players who have to step up to raise the team.

Do you think Xavi will raise a sleeping giant?

Xavi is Barça DNA and he knows the house well because he has been there for many years. Instead, Koeman was a former player who came into a very difficult situation and I think he did a good job with the team he had.

How do you see Real Madrid this year?

Madrid are the favorite candidate to win the championship because they are confident, playing well and Ancelotti is working very well. It is a team with strength and with a very strong identity and it will be difficult to play the League against them. There are also teams that are doing very well like Sevilla or Real Sociedad. I know Imanol from my time at Villarreal and he is doing a fantastic job and he has a lot of merit.

Could we see Thomas Christiansen train in Spain in the future?

I would like to train in Spain. Until now the possibility has not been presented and in some moments they have said that due to lack of knowledge of the competition for having trained outside. The clubs are afraid to bet on coaches who come from abroad, but I am living that situation with Panama and things are going very well. Sometimes you have to bet and be brave to bring in a player or coach, even if they come from outside.

What do you ask of 2022?

Professionally, I ask you to be as good as 2021. Personally, I ask for the union with the family and health.