Chile is currently last in the 10-team South American qualifying group and desperately needs to win the clash at Lima's Estadio Monumental to revive its hopes of a berth at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"This is an important time and we need to start winning,\" Gareca told reporters on Wednesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I know what we're playing for, we all know it. Yes, we have to get results, we're in a very complicated situation and so is Peru,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Chile currently has just five points from 10 qualifiers and trails ninth-placed Peru by one point.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The clash will mark Gareca's first visit to Lima as a manager since he ended a seven-year spell in charge of Peru's national team in July 2022, reports Xinhua.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Another subplot will be the return of midfielder Arturo Vidal to La Roja's national squad after a 14-month absence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"We believe that it is a good moment for him to come back given everything that has happened,\" Gareca said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Argentine coach said that his first meeting with Vidal \"was normal\", despite Vidal's fierce criticism of Gareca on social media over the past year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"We were able to talk and we both agreed that the national team is above everything and we came to an agreement,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Argentine coach said that his first meeting with Vidal \"was normal\", despite Vidal's fierce criticism of Gareca on social media over the past year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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