Naija street don hear am: Julen Lopetegui, di coach wey dey lead Qatar for di World Cup, don talk say going to di tournament just for di sake of going na stupid thing. Di man wey don experience World Cup as player and coach before, but never get chance to coach for di competition, say dis time different.
Lopetegui bin be Spain coach for 2018 World Cup, but dem sack am one day before di competition start because he agree to coach Real Madrid after di tournament. Now, after spells for Real Madrid, Sevilla, Wolves and West Ham, he dey back for World Cup, dis time with Qatar.
For interview with The Guardian, Lopetegui yarn about im journey. He remember 1994 World Cup for America, where he bin be third-choice goalkeeper for Spain. He no play any minute, but e still dey part of di squad. Now, 32 years later, he dey return to America as coach of Qatar.
Di coach explain say di decision to take Qatar job na because of di challenge. He say: “We come for two main reasons: to take on huge challenge wey nobody don do before (qualifying for World Cup, as Qatar bin dey automatic host for 2022) and to test ourselves for very different context.”
Lopetegui talk about di difficulties dem face, including bombing wey cancel friendlies and make players no fit train for three weeks. He say: “It was unpleasant, unlike anything I ever experience. You dey wait for alerts, dey hang for phone. You get message say no leave home, another when risk drop.”
Despite all wahala, Lopetegui say di experience don make am better coach. He dey focus on how to compete, not just dey there. He quote famous comedy sketch: “We can go, but going just for sake of going na stupid. We dey go World Cup to compete.”
Qatar dey face tough group, but Lopetegui don dey prepare im team to fight. He say: “We know say when ball come out with Qatar for draw, other teams dey happy. That no suppose annoy us; we suppose know. Dem get to beat us. We get to construct di best competitive scenario.”
Di coach yarn about im past, including how he miss chance to play for Spain for 1994 because of back injury, and how he end up as third-choice goalkeeper. He say: “Football no owe me anything, but maybe I owe myself moment like this.”
Lopetegui don carry plenty lessons from im career. He say di experience for 2018, when dem sack am, don give am “thicker skin”. Now, he dey ready to lead Qatar for di World Cup, and he no dey there just to dey there.
