Brighton midfielder Diego Gómez received public backing from Paraguay manager Gustavo Alfaro after the Seagulls player endured a painful end to his country’s World Cup campaign.
France progressed to the quarter-finals with a 1-0 win thanks to Kylian Mbappé’s penalty, awarded after Gómez brought down Désiré Doué inside the box. The 23-year-old was left devastated by the mistake. However, Alfaro quickly moved to shield him from criticism.
Rather than focusing on the decisive error, the Paraguay coach highlighted the midfielder’s mentality. He urged those around the national team to support him.
Alfaro explains Brighton difference
Speaking after the defeat, Alfaro revealed Gómez puts enormous pressure on himself whenever he makes a mistake. His quotes were relayed by Paraguayan newspaper El Nacional.
“Diego is very emotional. He feels that when he misplaces a pass, he lets an entire country down. He has to take that weight off his shoulders, that responsibility of believing he cannot make mistakes,” the manager said.
Alfaro then pointed to the version of Gómez regularly seen at Brighton. He insisted confidence is the key to getting the best from the midfielder.
“We have to help him so he doesn’t feel that pressure. Then he plays with much more freedom, like he does at Brighton.”
Rather than blaming Gómez for Paraguay’s exit, the coach made it clear he wants the midfielder to move on quickly.
Brighton can take positives
While the World Cup ended in disappointment, Gómez still leaves the tournament having further established himself as one of Paraguay’s leading players.
The mistake against France will inevitably attract attention because it decided a knockout match. Yet Brighton are unlikely to view it as anything more than an unfortunate moment in an otherwise encouraging period of development.
Instead, Alfaro’s words may offer the clearest indication of the player’s current challenge. That challenge is learning to trust himself with the same freedom he has shown in the Premier League.
