Jhon Arias has opened up in Colombia about the new challenges he faces with the national team, where coach Néstor Lorenzo has been asking him to take on a different role.
The Wolverhampton winger, once a key figure at Fluminense, admitted in an interview with ESPN Colombia that the adjustment has not been simple, but he is determined to make it work.
The 28-year-old explained that he is no longer playing in the same position as in Brazil, where he had more freedom on the wing. “I’m trying to adapt to what the coach asks of me in the national team. It’s different to what I was doing in Brazil, with other functions, but I try to adapt to what he wants. It’s something different to what I played in Brazil, which was more natural for me and the one I had been performing for a longer time,” Arias said.
He then made it clear that this change is not necessarily a setback. In his words, it can help him grow into a more complete footballer, capable of performing in various roles and understanding different demands on the pitch. “This change helps me, it strengthens me as a player to be more complete,” Arias stressed, noting that he wants to take advantage of every opportunity to expand his game.
The Wolves player also highlighted his respect for Lorenzo’s decisions, whether he is starting or coming off the bench. “I’m a very respectful person, I respect the coach’s decisions. I try to be at my best, I try to give my all to be in the starting eleven, and when I’m not, I support from the outside,” he explained, emphasising the importance of being useful to the group in different ways.
Arias didn’t shy away from Colombia’s ambitions for the 2026 World Cup. After qualification was sealed with one game to spare, he underlined the squad’s belief that they can compete with anyone. “We have the same chances as any team. The idea is to work on our weaknesses and arrive at the World Cup in our best version. From a human and sporting point of view we don’t have to envy the favourites,” he argued.
He even pointed to their Copa América form as proof that Colombia can stand toe-to-toe with the strongest sides, provided they go step by step and keep their focus.
The comments show a player open to adaptation and eager to embrace responsibility on the international stage. At the same time, they raise questions about how this positional shift could affect Arias back in England.
His spell at Wolves has been slow to take off, with limited minutes and little impact so far, and it remains to be seen whether this international experience will help him settle more quickly at the Molineux.
