Baldivieso committed to bold path - SOUTH AMERICA
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| AFP |
Against this backdrop, Baldivieso's remarks after La Verde kicked off their Russia 2018 qualifying campaign with a 2-0 loss at home to Uruguay should not have come as much of a surprise: "I've got to apologise to people across the country if their excitement has been dashed, but we have to keep our feet on the ground. We'd warned that this is a process and that you can't expect results overnight. Be patient with us," he said.
Baldivieso's comments may have raised some eyebrows as such candid self-criticism is not exactly the norm in the football world. However, the 43-year-old spoke equally frankly following the 7-0 friendly drubbing by Argentina in the first match of his reign, which he branded "shameful". "I don't find it at all tough to say that I'm ashamed, or to lay bare the state of the game in the country," the coach told FIFA.com. "I've always been upfront, I don't weigh my words to look good. I speak my mind at all times and it hasn't worked out too badly for me."
Confronting change head-on
It was in this forthright manner that Baldivieso took the plunge with his first major decision in charge: to approach the World Cup qualifiers with a rejuvenated squad made up almost entirely of domestic-based players. As he put it, "I've always preached about making space for young players at every club I've coached. Nowadays the national team have an average age of 25-26, which speaks volumes. It's a huge risk, but it's one I want to take because the players in Bolivia deserve this type of opportunity."
The reverse against Uruguay in La Paz stung, naturally, but it did not trigger any doubts in Baldivieso's mind. First and foremost, because he understands full well that crops of players like the one he was part of, the last to take Bolivia to a World Cup, do not grow on trees. "It's only every once in a while that a group of talents like that one comes together. Argentinian football has had several such generations, but there haven't been that many in Colombia or Chile, for example. Brazil's current generation isn't all that dazzling either."
According to the 43-year-old, Bolivia's deep-rooted problems make them a special case: "We've taken steps backwards here. All those of us who love this sport are partially responsible because we've failed to deal with the situation. It goes beyond particular individuals or a single generation. We need a structural shake-up, for example in the youth ranks. We have to start somewhere."
The importance of esprit de corps
Baldivieso is the fourth member of La Verde's 1994 World Cup squad to take the reins, following in the footsteps of Carlos Trucco, Erwin Sanchez and Gustavo Quinteros, the last of whom is now at the helm of Ecuador, Bolivia's next opponents on the road to Russia. However, the current incumbent prefers not to discuss previous regimes, instead talking up the presence in his set-up of three of his other team-mates from those halcyon days in the USA: former goalkeeper Marcelo Torrico, defender-cum-midfielder Luis Cristaldo and attacking midfielder Carlos Borja, who captained the side.
Nevertheless, Baldivieso knows that trying to channel the spirit of 1994 is not enough. For this reason, he is thinking outside the box in his attempts to strike a chord with his charges. The two activities he recently arranged at the Bolivian Military Academy – first a motivational talk and then a spot of target shooting – are a prime example. "What we're looking to do is to rekindle a culture of serving the national cause among the players. We want them to feel that playing for their country is a privilege, not an obligation."
In footballing terms, Baldivieso wants to forge a team "that press and are both committed and aggressive all over the pitch, while being more concerned with our own game than with the opposition's - without being kamikaze about it". Glimpses of this action plan were in evidence against Uruguay, but the Bolivians paid dearly for their bluntness up front, going away empty-handed largely because of a failure to make their openings count.
Considering the transition that is underway, some might suggest that getting to Russia is a bridge too far. Baldivieso is under no illusions: "We can't lie to ourselves; we need time to build what we want to." Nevertheless, the straight-talking tactician is determined to press on with his vision: "People believe in this project and we don't want to let ourselves or anyone else down. We're going to do the best we can, but by following this route. We know that we're taking a risk, but we're willing to do so even if it ends up costing us our jobs."