Saturday goal and failure

Mario Salgado (1-0): Serie B (2010-05-01) Torino - Gallipoli 2-0

Relatively unknown Chilean striker Mario Salgado scored for his Torino against Gallipoli. Salgado is a 28 year old who has been playing for different Italian clubs for almost 10 years. Torino is currently in 6th place, four points up to being promoted to Serie A with four matches left. Salgado has not played for La Roja, except for some sub-20 matches some years ago, and he has only played four games for Torino this season. Therefore I doubt that he will be called up to La Roja for the World Cup. The goal was pretty nice, a header from far away directly from a corner, watch it here below.



Now some sad news. Luis Jiménez has been sent out for the third time this season for Parma. Today in the game against Roma, he received his second yellow card at the 88th minute. As he was lent in from West Ham in January this year, he has as mentioned been sent out three times in eleven games. This is not acceptable for any professional player.

Picture: Google

GOAL interview Jiménez

Chilean player Luis Jiménez was interviewed by Sergio Stanco from football magazine Goal about his career and chances of playing in the World Cup. I present a short passage of the interview, you can read the rest here.

GOAL: What does the Chile national team represent for the people after the Earthquakes?

LJ: Even though I wasn’t a part of the group of players who helped qualify the nation, I think that the players who were a part of the side followed the situation very closely, because the Chilean population did go through an Earthquake.

GOAL: How are your reports with Bielsa? What is your role in the National team?

LJ: With Bielsa, I have an excellent relationship. Before going to West Ham, I needed a document that would allow me to play in England (like a visa), and he helped me to obtain it, saying that I was an important player for the national team. The group of players that he used, though, did very well and seeing that they finished second in the qualification group, I believe that the World Cups go those who have earnt them. Personally, I doubt I will go.

GOAL: A Chilean player you believe is an excellent acquisition for European or Italian football in particular?

LJ: To say [Udinese striker] Alexis Sanchez would be too easy seeing that he is doing very well in Italy. I suggest Waldo Ponce, the Chilean defender who plays for Universidad Catolica.

GOAL: How come Matiaz Fernandez has not been able to impose himself like many imagined?

LJ: I ask myself the same thing (laughs). It is very strange. He arrived in Europe, to Villarreal, after being elected as the best South American player, but has not been able to make a name for himself like he knows. At Sporting now, he is doing well, but not at the level we all expected him to. He is not demonstrating his qualities on a continual basis.

Pinilla & Jiménez are out

As I wrote yesterday, Valdés and Pizarro are doubtful about their future in the Chilean team. Now it is Mauricio Pinilla's turn to tell us that he will most likely NOT play for Chile in South Africa. In an interview, the Grosseto attacker said that he gives up hopes in playing for Bielsa's team. He thinks that Bielsa already has a team that he believes in and that "outsiders" like him will not get a chance to prove their skills. Pinilla has played in the national team, however he has shown an immature personality in his younger years that still haunts him. The Serie B top scorer will not play for Grosseto more this season due to an injury and is also placed in several higher ranked Italian clubs. Today there were rumors of Jiménez's Parma has laid an offer for the striker.

At the same time, Jiménez also speaks about the same issue in another interview. He believes that the Italian based players (excluding Sanchéz & Isla) are not a priority for Bielsa's plans. Jiménez speaks warm of Valdés, who is a friend even though their different clubs.

Pictures from: http://www.transfermarkt.de

Valdés & Pizarro to South Africa?

Jaime Valdés spoke in an interview about his chances of taking a place in La Roja for the World Cup. He has only played two games for Chile, and they were several years ago. Valdés is currently playing his best football in his 10-year Italian career. In the interview, he also said that Bielsa should consider calling David Pizarro, who has also not played any game in the World Cup qualifying round. Both Valdés and Pizarro have been at the top of their game. Pizarro's Roma are now number 1 in Serie A, after Inter lost two points in their draw against Fiorentina this weekend.
Should Bielsa call Valdés and Pizarro?
There is definitely competition for the offensive/creative midfielder roles in La Roja. Valdivia, Orellana, Jimenez, Matí and Villanueva are some player that all have superb creative qualities. FIFA has statistics of all players who played for La Roja in the qualifying round.

Pictures from: http://www.transfermarkt.de

Weekend goals

Alexis Sanchéz (0-1): Serie A (2010-04-11) Livorno - Udinese 0-2

'El niño maravilla' has woken up late this season scoring for the second week in a row. His goal came early in the game, allowing Udinese to have an advantage throughout the rest of teh game. Hopefully he will keep this good form for the World Cup which starts in two months. Alexis currently said that he is enjoying this period in his career. We have high expectations of you.

Luis Jiménez (2-3): Serie A (2010-04-11) Napoli - Parma 2-3

Jiménez was loaned to Parma from Inter (via West Ham) during the transfer opening in January and has made quite an impression on Parma. He has been expulsed two games in a row in February. Today, he scored the last goal for Parma, who's had a descent season as newcomers of Serie A. Jimenez has played about 20 games for Chile, even a few as a captain. However, his appearance under Bielsa's team has not been great, he has only played two games in the qualifying round back in 2007.



Arturo Vidal (1-1): Bundesliga (2010-04-10) Leverkusen - Bayern München 1-1

Arturo Vidal has been one of Leverkusen's best player this season. The team has been at the top of the league most of the season. This weekend Leverkusen played against rivals Bayern München, who are league leaders and Champions League semi-finalists. The game ended 1-1 and Vidal's goal was not the nicest, a rebound from a freekick placed him alone in front of the goal, but he's a defensive midfielder whose yellow cards are far more common than goals. His importance for the both Leverkusen and La Roja is indisputable and I see no problem in him being a starter of La Roja's first three games in the World Cup.