The name of the Ecuadorian coach Paúl Vélez is one of the candidates of Francisco Egas, president of the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF), to take over the national team after the resignation of coach Jordi Cruyff, revealed a source from Ecuafútbol to EL UNIVERSO last week. This information has provoked different reactions from Miler Salazar, main executive of Macará, the club where Vélez has coached in the last three seasons and has qualified for the Copa Sudamericana and Libertadores.
Salazar, on Thursday, July 23, told radio Caracol de Ambato: "It would be an honor for him to go to the national team. He is the best national coach. I am happy for Paúl if it happens. I told him five years ago that someday he would go to the national team."
Today, on radio Stereo Fiesta de Ambato, Salazar changed his statement and stated: "I can't find another explanation, they are trying to destabilize Ecuadorian football. I categorically deny the call from Francisco Egas to Paúl Vélez. Last Saturday I was with Paúl, no one called him, neither intermediaries."
He also added: "I told Paúl that this is not the best time to join the national team because of the leadership differences, but if they come looking for him, Macará will give him all the facilities. If he were to leave, I asked him to recommend a coach."
Egas is working against time to sign a new coach, as the Ecuadorian national team only has three months left to start the qualification process for the World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
In addition, he is facing a power struggle with the six members of the FEF board of directors who want him to leave the presidency for not respecting the approved budget of $4 million to hire the previous coach - he hired him for $6 million -; his involvement in the sale of players as president of Universidad Católica (something prohibited by FIFA) and the delivery of checks to five teams that asked him for a "favor" on January 9, 2019 (one with a later notification), 22 days before the elections - in an ordinary congress - for the Ecuafútbol board of directors. (D)