Inter midfielder Arturo Vidal feels that the Chilean national team must move on with a focus on youth, but believes that he could still have a role to play.
Speaking to Chilean broadcaster TNT Sports after La Roja officially failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Uruguay in the final qualifier, the 34-year-old reflected on his future in international football.
Chile went into the international break knowing that they still had a chance of qualifying for the World Cup, but losses to Brazil and Uruguay have ensured that they will miss out on the tournament.
Vidal has been part of a generation of players who have won the Copa America on two occasions in addition to reaching the knockout rounds of the World Cup on two occasions.
However, with this being the second edition of the World Cup that the team has failed to qualify for and many of the players at the heart of the team’s successes last decade, it could be time for the team to be refreshed.
Vidal is certain that Chile must go forward and look to young players for the future, though this does not mean that he is ready to leave necessarily.
“The fans gave us all their love,” he said, “they also applauded us at the end of the match. I will continue to play for this shirt as long as I can.”
As to whether this is the end of a golden generation for Chile, he said that “It’s been a period full of trophies, but we must understand that we need to renew, as all the teams do.”
“I hope that new talents will arrive to help us out,” he went on, before adding that “[coach Martin[ Lasarte did a good job, but it’s not for me to decide whether he stays on.”
