Andreas Pereira says Uruguay aims to equal Brazil and controversial speech has repercussions

At the press conference on Friday (5), Uruguayan striker Facundo Pellistri commented on the statement made by midfielder Andreas Pereira that “Uruguay dreams of being Brazil”. During the national team's interview on Thursday (4), Andreas mentioned that Uruguay “dreams” of reaching the same level as the Brazilian team, which has a midfield made up of players from the English Premier League.

Pellistri, who played with Andreas at Manchester United and are long-time friends, dismissed the statement as wishful thinking.

“Regarding what Andreas Pereira said, I hadn't heard it. I played with him at Manchester United. Sometimes these things are mentioned to provoke a reaction, it's more of a joke (illusion).”

Furthermore, Pellistri highlighted that Uruguay will prepare for the next game with the same seriousness with which it has faced all the challenges in the Copa América so far. From the striker's perspective, in terms of preparation, Uruguay respects Brazil, in the same way that it respects all the opponents that the Celeste team faces, emphasizing that the preparation is the same for all opponents.

_{The Brazilian team is looking for its 10th Copa América title. (Photo: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF)}

Andreas' speech does not match reality

For a long time now, the Brazilian national team, despite having many good players playing in Europe, has not shown good performance on the field in the last two World Cup cycles. With embarrassing eliminations and a football far below its golden days, when Brazil was feared with a team full of stars, the current scenario is limited to only great players.

Coach Marcelo Bielsa also commented on the midfielder's speech: “Personally, I don't think it will change (the game plan). Brazil is a country that, at the moment, has many wingers on both sides, all playing for big teams in the world and at a good level. So, the substitute that the rival chooses to solve Vinicius' absence will not be an easy option to neutralize,” pointed.

Brazil x Uruguay

The Copa América quarter-final match will be this Saturday, the 6th, at 10 pm, broadcast by Globo on open TV and by SporTV on closed TV.

Featured photo: Andreas Pereira at a press conference (Reproduction/CBF)