Skip to content

Colombia manager Jose Pekerman on Falcao's struggles: 'I feel I need to support him'

DANIEL GARCIA / AFP / Getty

With Radamel Falcao driven to tears by his predicament at Manchester United, manager of Colombia's national team, Jose Pekerman, is hoping to provide the struggling striker with a boost.

Since arriving at Old Trafford as part of a £6-million loan move from AS Monaco, Falcao has managed only four goals in 18 Premier League appearances and finds himself on the fringes of manager Louis van Gaal's squad rotation.

A recent report from French publication Le Figaro stated that United have no intention of turning his loan deal into a permanent move. But regardless of whether or not that proves to be case, Pekerman will be hoping to restore Falcao's confidence during Colombia's tour of Asia next week, in which Los Cafeteros will play friendlies against Bahrain and Kuwait.

"It's a huge problem that we need to resolve; this problem is as large as the sadness that Falcao is going through right now," Pekerman said, according to the Guardian. "I feel I need to support him because I understand how hard it is for him and the difficult moment he is experiencing. I want to work with him again and help him restore his confidence."

Falcao was recently sent to play for United's U21 side in a move that many saw as humiliating and as a symbol of how far the 29-year-old striker has fallen. However, Pekerman isn't keen to criticize Van Gaal's decision regarding the matter.

"Without being there you can't really comment about these matters," Pekerman said. 

"In terms of decisions taken regarding coaching methods, players the manager chooses or in which team a player plays for, I don't think I should comment on that. Of course, on a human level I'm on Falcao's side because I know that he's suffering and he deserves the opportunity to work better and to have his chance to show that he's OK. But it's not my job to judge the decisions of another coach."

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox