Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has rejected suggestions that his time in charge of Colombia was marked by a difficult relationship with senior players, insisting he looks back fondly on his spell with the South American side as he prepares to face them in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32.
Queiroz will lead the Black Stars into Saturday’s knockout encounter against Colombia, where he is set to come up against several players he previously coached, including captain James Rodríguez and Bayern Munich winger Luis Díaz.
In the build-up to the match, reports in sections of the Colombian media revived claims that the Portuguese coach had experienced tensions with members of the squad during his tenure between 2019 and 2020.
Addressing those suggestions, Queiroz firmly rejected the claims.
“I don’t have that view that you do,” he said when responding to suggestions that players had disagreements with his decisions.
The Ghana coach instead reflected positively on his period in charge of Colombia, describing it as a rewarding experience despite the difficulties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I can say that I truly enjoyed and loved my work with the Colombian team,” he added.
Queiroz’s comments come ahead of one of Ghana’s most significant matches of the tournament, with the Black Stars aiming to secure a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.
His previous experience with Colombia has added an extra layer of intrigue to the knockout fixture, given his familiarity with several members of the opposing squad.
During his spell in charge of Colombia, Queiroz guided the team to the quarter-finals of the 2019 Copa America. Their campaign ended after a penalty shootout defeat to Chile.
His tenure later concluded following a difficult run of results during qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, including defeats against Uruguay and Ecuador.
Despite those setbacks, Queiroz made clear that he retains positive memories of his time with the Colombian national team and dismissed suggestions that disagreements with players defined his period in charge.
Attention now turns to Saturday’s Round of 32 clash, where the Ghana coach will seek to use his knowledge of Colombian football in an effort to guide the Black Stars to victory.
Having worked closely with several of Colombia’s leading players during his time as national team manager, Queiroz enters the contest with first-hand understanding of the opposition’s strengths and style of play.
That experience could prove valuable as Ghana attempt to overcome one of the tournament’s strongest remaining teams and continue their World Cup campaign.
Victory would send the Black Stars into the quarter-finals, while defeat would bring their hopes of further progress to an end.
For Queiroz, the match also represents a reunion with a team he says he greatly enjoyed coaching, even as he focuses fully on leading Ghana to success on the world stage.
