By Sergio Silva
08 Jul 2024, 13:33 PM EDT
The good performance of the Venezuelan National Team in the Copa América United States 2024 is beginning to generate repercussions and one of them is related to the Argentine coach, Fernando “Bocha” Batistawho has been the subject of a rumor linking him to Ecuador.
The Venezuelan coach who has just led the Vinotinto to the quarterfinals of the tournament where fell in the penalty shootout against Canada After having completed a spectacular group stage with a full house of victories, he was reportedly contacted by the Ecuadorian federation to “test him out.”
This was announced by Argentine journalist Gastón Edul, who published the information on his social networks that quickly caused a stir in Venezuela where “Bocha” Batista has great support from the board of directors of the Venezuelan Football Federation, the players and the fans.
That’s why the coach himself was in charge of denying any approach with any other team, demonstrating his commitment to continue leading the Vinotinto with which he has a contract until the 2026 World Cup, the Argentine’s great objective with the Venezuelan team.
First, “Bocha” Batista published a story on his Instagram account with an image in which he appears alongside the president of the FVF, Jorge Giménez, accompanied by the message: “Walking and dreaming together”along with some emoticons of a heart and a Venezuelan flag.
Later, the Argentine coach gave a short interview on Pablo Giralt’s television program in which he closed this possibility, assuring that “Today I am where I want to be”making clear his permanence on the bench of the Venezuelan National Team.
“I read it because one is not oblivious to these things, but I am very happy in Venezuela, I am very happy with the team, with the country, with the people, with the federation. So I am behind the dream that we all have of taking Venezuela to the World Cup. So today I am where I want to be.”he said.
In this way, Fernando “Bocha” Batista rules out the possibility of leaving with the Ecuadorian National Team, which after its elimination in the quarterfinals of the Copa América USA 2024 at the hands of Argentina in the penalty shootout, fired the Spanish coach Félix Sánchez.
That is why the southern federation is already looking for a replacement for the European coach in order to begin thinking about the resumption of the South American qualifiers this September with a pair of matches against Brazil and Peru.
The Ecuadorian national team is currently in fifth place in the standings with eight points, behind the Vinotinto, which has nine points after the first six rounds of the qualifiers.
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