Alianza Lima, the current two-time champion of the Women's Football League, has John Alber Ortíz as their new coach for the current season, and the Colombian strategist spoke exclusively with RPP Noticias about his arrival at the club and the main objectives leading the team.
As you may recall, John Alber Ortíz was the champion of the Colombian league in charge of Deportivo Cali in 2021 and then reached the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores with the same team in 2022. He then received the proposal from Alianza Lima with whom he will face the important challenge of winning the national league title this season and securing the only spot in the Copa Libertadores 2023.
What motivated you to come to Alianza Lima?
Because of the league, the two tournaments that have been held in Peru have been good, as well as what the club has shown. I come here to teach but also to learn a lot.
How did your arrival come about?
We were in the Copa Libertadores 2022 and Alianza Lima let me know that there was interest. Our participation in the Libertadores with Deportivo Cali ended, and in November I received a call from Sisy Quiroz (Head of Women's Soccer at Alianza Lima). Fortunately, things worked out well, and here we are.
What are your main objectives with the team?
We shouldn't measure the past, it shouldn't sound arrogant, but the idea that I have sold to the girls is that they should be convinced that they can reach the top four of the Copa Libertadores. The goal is to be among those top four, and then we'll see. It may sound aggressive and arrogant, but we have to set it. Alianza Lima is the biggest club in Peru, and that's how we should represent it.
How will this Alianza Lima play?
Organized buildup play, with a clear idea starting from our goalkeeper, and then looking for spaces. We will be strong on the wings, and what I have always been clear about is that we will never sit back, we will always go out and search, that's why we will have a lot of attacking presence.
In order to achieve that, you would first have to win the threepeat.
Of course, first we have to earn the title, we all know and understand that. The history of Alianza Lima is already written, and we have to enter that history by winning a threepeat and playing a good Copa Libertadores.
Is there pressure being the current two-time champion of Peruvian football?
More than pressure, it's a commitment because we must have respect for everything that has already been done. In addition, we know that we are the team that everyone will want to beat, there is an unbeaten record that everyone will want to break. Based on that, we have to understand that more than pressure, it is a personal and collective commitment.
It is known that John Tierradentro, the current coach of Universitario de Deportes, was your assistant coach at Deportivo Cali. What does that generate for you?
There is healthy competition, now we are sporting rivals but we are still good friends. We haven't had any contact here. I know there will be intrigue because it is the classic rivalry both for the players and now from the benches.
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