Paraguay Coach in Fiery Press Conference: Criticize Me, Not the Players

Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro unleashed his fury over the criticism leveled at his players following their 4-1 defeat to the USA in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. He urged the media to direct all their attacks at him and leave his players alone. The coach took full responsibility for the loss, emphasizing that his squad needed peace to focus on their crucial second Group D match against Turkey on Friday.

“Criticize me. You can shoot at me, but not at them. Protect them. Do you know why? Because when the World Cup is over, I will be gone, but they will remain. They will stay and continue to represent the country,” Alfaro declared, emphatically wagging his finger throughout the press conference.

“Please, hit me. I will get up and take all your punches. But I only ask you to protect the players; they are the most valuable asset the national team possesses,” he added emotionally.

There will be little room for error for either Paraguay or Turkey in San Francisco on Friday, as both teams suffered opening-round losses, with Turkey falling 2-0 to Australia. Alfaro admitted that Paraguay was overwhelmed and outplayed on all fronts against the United States but stated they had since regrouped and would put up a strong fight against Turkey.

However, as he attempted to shift focus to the upcoming match, he visibly grew irritated by questions regarding his starting lineup choices, launching into another lengthy tirade. “I closed the American chapter on Saturday, and you’re bringing me back to it again. Tomorrow we have a final against Turkey. They are here, these players represent seven million people... you can destroy the coach, but it’s also them,” he said.

Midfielder Matías Galarza sat beside Alfaro, appearing uncomfortable at times during the heated press conference, which extended well beyond its allotted time.

“Well, it’s hard to talk now, isn’t it?” Galarza quipped, eliciting laughter from the media. “Obviously, that match with the USA was a shock for us, but that chapter is now closed, and tomorrow we have a final, and that’s how we see it.”