The Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, 'Felipao', acknowledged that he was very close to becoming the coach of Boca Juniors last year and that at some point he will have the opportunity to manage this Argentine club.

"It was true that Batistuta spoke to me to coach Boca Juniors. This would have happened if Beraldi and Batistuta won the election, but unfortunately this did not happen. I like Boca, there will be an opportunity to manage it. I like how they play, how they face the game, how they behave, but I also have identification with all the clubs that I have managed in all places in the world. But yes, I have a lot of identification with Boca, and from here I will be supporting Boca in the coming years," said the 69-year-old coach in dialogue with the Mitre Gaucha radio.

In another nod to the 'xeneize' team, Scolari stated: "I liked Guillermo's Boca style more than Gallardo's River. That Boca had a more classic and beautiful way of playing, I liked Guillermo's team more. I really liked watching Boca play. River's team also plays well, but it's different, but I like Boca's warrior and strong style. I don't have a relationship with Gallardo, but I do with Guillermo, we have faced each other in some matches, I have a good relationship with him and we have a reciprocal way of thinking, I feel good when I talk to him. " "It's very good that they say that Gallardo is among the best in the world, and I believe that he could already be at a club in Europe for a few years. In South America there are very good coaches, but mainly Argentine coaches are going more to Europe than Brazilian coaches," he argued.

Regarding the possible return of Brazilian football in the context of the pandemic, 'Felipao' stated: "My opinion regarding the return of football is that more time should be given until the situation is normal and to avoid future consequences. I believe that by August or September the situation could be normal."

In the same vein, he expressed his opinion about the Copa Libertadores de América that he won twice, with Gremio in 1995 and Palmeiras in 1999: "I don't think it will be played this year, but if it were to be played, it would have to be with some modifications. In September or October, some matches could be played, but I don't think it will end normally until the end of the year."

The experienced coach suffered the worst defeat in the history of Brazilian football, the thrashing against Germany in the 2014 World Cup, and did not hide his feelings: "The 7-1 against Germany was the toughest defeat I had to suffer, because it was with the national team of my country. It's a defeat that will be marked, for us as well as for Germany. It was something very sad in the sequence of life and work," he added: "If that match were to be repeated, of course I would change some situations and it could be different because you already know what happened and you would think about changing details after what happened. But it's already happened and we have to assimilate and move on with life."

In days when Lautaro Martínez's transfer to Barcelona is about to be completed, Felipao did not hesitate to highlight Neymar over the Argentine crack thinking about the best company for Lionel Messi in the culé attack: "I worked a long time with Neymar, who is one of the best players in Brazilian football and who will be the best in the world in the future. I believe that Barcelona would work again with Neymar alongside Messi and it would be a spectacular duo. I have nothing against Lautaro Martínez, but since I have already worked with Neymar and know his skills, I believe that he would fit better in Barcelona."

"I am eager to coach again, but the first and most important thing is to get through all this that is happening, we have to take care of ourselves and not let the coronavirus enter our homes. I want to return with health and safety," Luiz Felipe Scolari concluded. (D)