Esteban Solari has clear goal at Pumas: 'I return for my revenge, I seek the title'

Esteban Solari has returned to Club Universidad Nacional, now as head coach, driven by a desire for redemption. His initial outing, a 0-1 friendly loss to América de Cali at the Olímpico Universitario stadium, did not meet expectations, marking a challenging start to his tenure.

“

It's a pleasure to be home and to be in charge of this new project. I want to give back a lot to this club, which is very special.

Despite the setback, Solari expressed happiness about returning to the club where he played nearly 20 years ago. "It's a pleasure to be home and to be in charge of this new project. I want to give back a lot to this club, which is very special," he stated. Solari considers Pumas a club that deeply resonated with him during his playing career, more so than any other team he represented.

“

Pumas, for Esteban Solari, is a love I had 20 years ago and that I am enjoying again today; I am grateful to be here. Since I left, I wanted to return, my desire was very strong and our goal is to achieve the title we all seek.

Speaking to TUDN, Solari articulated his primary objective: "Today I have the opportunity to return for that revenge I missed when we lost that final [in 2007]. Pumas, for Esteban Solari, is a love I had 20 years ago and that I am enjoying again today; I am grateful to be here. Since I left, I wanted to return, my desire was very strong and our goal is to achieve the title we all seek."

“

I found a team that was hurting because, obviously, it didn't achieve its goal, it made a great effort and left that bitter taste of not being able to be champions, but I found a group eager to trust this project, to build something solid that will last over time.

Solari found the team disheartened after failing to achieve its previous objective, leaving a bitter taste. However, he also observed a group eager to embrace the new project and build something lasting. His ambition is to establish a clear identity that positions Pumas among the top eight teams, enabling consistent qualification for championships and ultimately competing for the title. He acknowledged the inherent pressure at a club like Pumas but sees it as a motivator to surpass expectations.

“

The pressure here is always there because this is a big club, the pressure is there, but it drives us to overcome. We must strive twice as hard as others because this crest is very large.