Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has dismissed reports suggesting he had a strained relationship with senior Colombian players during his time in charge of the South American side, as he prepares for a high-stakes FIFA World Cup Round of 32 encounter on Saturday.
Queiroz, who previously managed Colombia national football team between 2019 and 2020, is set to face several familiar faces in the knockout tie, including captain James Rodríguez and Bayern Munich winger Luis Díaz.
Ahead of the match, speculation had resurfaced in some Colombian media outlets alleging tensions between the coach and parts of the squad during his tenure. However, Queiroz strongly rejected those claims.
“I don’t have that view that you do,” he said when responding to suggestions that players had disagreements with his decisions.
Instead, the Ghana coach spoke warmly about his spell in charge of Colombia, emphasizing his positive experience despite the challenges of the period, especially during the COVID-19 era.
“I can say that I truly enjoyed and loved my work with the Colombian team,” he added.
During his tenure, Queiroz guided Colombia to the quarter-finals of the 2019 Copa America, where they were eliminated by Chile in a penalty shootout. His time with the team later ended after difficult results in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying, including defeats to Uruguay and Ecuador.
Now at the helm of Ghana, Queiroz will be aiming to use his insider knowledge of Colombian football to help the Black Stars pull off an upset and book a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.
