Peruvian national team player Erick Noriega has explained that manager Mano Menezes is selecting him as a central defender because of their past work together.
Menezes, a regular caller of Noriega to the national squad, chose to field him in defense based on direct familiarity with his attributes from their shared time at Brazilian club Gremio.
Noriega said the head coach knew his capabilities as a center-back and that he understood what Menezes demanded after working under him in Brazil. He added that he faced no issues adjusting to the role for the national side.
Versatility and experience in Brazilian football
Position flexibility has been a key feature of Noriega's game throughout his career. Since moving to Brazil, the player nicknamed Samurai has gained experience as a central defender while also possessing the technical skills to operate as a defensive midfielder.
Noriega noted that he had spent just over a year playing in Brazil. He explained that the period spent in the country was helping him evolve significantly both as a professional footballer and as an individual.
Noriega plays his club football for Gremio, a major team based in Porto Alegre that competes in the top division of Brazilian football. Menezes, an experienced Brazilian manager who previously coached Brazil's national team and top South American clubs, took charge of Peru to oversee their international campaigns.
Upcoming international friendly fixtures
Noriega stated that the upcoming FIFA international friendly matches would provide the squad with an opportunity to return to winning ways on the international stage.
He expressed confidence that the tactical instructions provided by Menezes during each training session would help the team achieve its long-term objectives in upcoming competitions.
Peru will play their next international friendly against the United States on Saturday, 26 September. The match is scheduled to take place on American soil at 3:30 p.m. Peruvian time.
Following the fixture against the United States, the Peruvian team is set to play further international friendly matches against Mexico, Canada, and Colombia.
