Reinaldo Rueda, Chile’s National Team Coach, said on Monday that La Roja played a good game against Uruguay, despite losing 1-0 and finishing second in CONMEBOL Copa América 2019 Group C.


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Chile played a great game, we needed courage and determination to make it happen, said Rueda at the press conference following the match at Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.

“Certainly, the match was very balanced. We were aware of the opponent quality, a difficult style of play, but I think Chile played a very good game, showed carácter and order”, added the Colombian coach.

Chile only needed a draw to keep the first place in Group C and and avoid Colombia in quarterfinals, will finally have to face the Colombian in Sao Paulo on Friday.

Uruguay, meanwhile, which took first place in the Group, Will face Peru on Saturday in Salvador (northeast).

The Coach was sorry about losing the game after Edinson Cavani’s goal. “We had to lose, it’s hard”, he said.

Rueda proposed a different scheme from previous games, with more power in the defensive sector, and decided to reserve Arturo Vidal, Mauricio Isla and Jean Beausejour, who already had yellow cards. Vidal has a also has muscular discomfort.

It was to risk them too much (…). Circumstances were right for that and we were already qualified, Rueda said.