Sheffield United attacker Ben Brereton Diaz continues to be one of the hot topics in the Chilean sports media.
With manager Ricardo Gareca initially not calling up the player because he can’t speak Spanish, the situation changed once injuries in the squad forced him to change his mind.
As the coach now held a press conference ahead of the friendly against Albania, he’s quoted by TNT Sports talking about the situation, and claimed he was misinterpreted.
“I have always been clear on the concepts, the fact that there are different interpretations is not my responsibility. Interpretations are made according to how they want to make them.”
“I said that being in a Spanish-speaking national team, he will speak Spanish because it helps in coexistence, but it is not a condition for a call-up. We saw it was a good opportunity to call him up and that’s how it happened. That’s what I said at the press conference about Ben.”
Gareca even gave some details of how his communication with the Sheffield United player has been in the times he played for the national team.
“When I had a personal talk it was always with a translator, but apparently he understood my instructions, but you have to speak very slowly and in general in football you don’t speak slowly. Interpreting is important and hopefully I’m getting better and better prepared in that respect.”
Brereton, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent, has now been playing for Chile since June 2021.
That was more than enough time for him to learn Spanish, so the national team surely have their reasons not to be happy with the situation.
The attacker is loaned by Villarreal to Sheffield United until the end of the season, and so far, has two goals in six appearances for the Blades.
Now all eyes will be on his next appearance with Chile.
