According to Justo Villar, sports director of the Paraguayan Football Association (AFP), Peru has become a powerful rival and a "thorn in the side" for the Paraguayan National Team in recent years with Ricardo Gareca as coach, winning both matches they played in the qualifying rounds for Russia.
"It's the first time that we would start playing at home against a tough rival who was in the last World Cup. They have a coach who has been with them for four years and knows them perfectly, plus players of a very good level. We are rebuilding with a young team. Starting playing at home and beating the Peruvian National Team, who was our stumbling block in the last qualifiers, should be something fundamental," he said to UCI news.
Justo Villar, 42 years old, was a goalkeeper with a great international career, playing in his country for Libertad and Nacional, then defending the shirts of Newell's Old Boys, Real Valladolid, Estudiantes de la Plata, and Colo Colo. At the national team level, he participated in the World Cups of Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010, which is why he is an authoritative voice to analyze Pedro Gallese's performance as the goalkeeper for the Peruvian National Team.
"I think he is on the right path. Hopefully, his good performances don't start when he comes here, but after, in the second match and playing at home," he concluded.