Estupiñán praised Gallardo: “It's what the national team needed”

Just a few days before the new break for FIFA dates, the Ecuador national team is preparing to host Costa Rica on November 13 in Quito and Bolivia on the 17th in Guayaquil. In this context, one of the team's leaders came out strongly in support of Marcelo Gallardo.

Pervis Estupiñán, left-back for Milan and a regular figure for La Tri, did not hesitate to point out that the arrival of the Argentine coach represents a key change. “Gallardo's arrival is very important for the team because he is a coach with a lot of experience and has won many titles, and that is what the national team needed to have the opportunity to win something important,” he stated in an interview with Telemundo.

The 28-year-old player added that the team has a good group of young players and those who have already gained experience in Copa América and World Cups. “We will try to work at our best to bring joy to the country by winning something important,” he concluded.

Gallardo seeks to leave behind the poor image left by the tour in Asia, where Ecuador lost 0-3 to South Korea, drew 0-0 with Japan, and finished 1-1 with Panama. Estupiñán was a starter in the first two matches and did not play in the third.

A reference with European experience

Emerging from Liga de Quito, Estupiñán moved to Spain in 2016 and played for Granada, Almería, Mallorca, Osasuna, and Villarreal. He then made the leap to the Premier League with Brighton and is currently in his second season with Milan.

With the Ecuador national team, he has played 58 matches since 2019 and participated in the 2022 Qatar World Cup. He is also among those called up for the upcoming 2026 World Cup to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

His support comes at a time when the management and coaching staff need to convey calm after a winless start. The left-back not only valued Gallardo's titles but also focused on the concrete possibility of competing for something big.

There is anticipation within the squad for the upcoming training camps. The friendlies in November will be the first chance to measure the work of the Muñeco at home and to begin building the identity that the coach seeks to instill.

Renewed hope in La Tri

Estupiñán insists that the group has the material to make a leap in quality. The combination of youth and experience, along with the guidance of a coach used to fighting for titles, creates a different feeling compared to previous cycles.

The message from the Milan player is clear: it is not just a change of coach, but a real opportunity to compete for higher goals. Gallardo arrives with the endorsement of having won a lot and with the demand to give Ecuador the chance to truly dream again.

As the final list for the November matches is awaited, the words of one of the most established leaders of the squad set the tone. The arrival of the Muñeco did not go unnoticed and, according to Estupiñán, it was exactly what the national team needed.

Now it remains to be seen if that expectation translates into results on the field. For now, the Milan left-back has already made it clear that the group is willing to work at their best so that the country can dream big again. The hope of winning something important has returned to La Tri.