Jorge Sampaoli has paid respect to Spain ahead of pitting his Chile side against them, in a game he believes will be valuable to the South Americans.
Chile are on the verge of making the World Cup next summer, currently third in the CONMEBOL standings behind Argentina and Colombia.
With one eye on making Brazil next summer, the team’s Coach is pressed on using Tuesday evening’s friendly with the world champions to full effect.
“This game is a reward for what was the performance against Venezuela [on Friday], whilst playing three days afterwards the world champion, it is a separate motivation,” Sampaoli reflected pre-match.
“Two teams against each other that will be at the World Cup next year is an incentive for everyone. We will have to take many lessons from this meeting.
“The game should be played the same way that we played against Venezuela, but against an opponent who has a much higher standing.
“We will be able to take a lot from this game and learn. It also gives us a parameter ahead of the possibility of going to the World Cup.
“Spain have a great selection of players available, very rich. Spain come into this game in a different position to when they played against Chile under Bielsa and Borghi – we may not be adequately prepared because we have only had one day of training.
“We must aim for the same level of freshness with which the team performed against Spain in the last game under Borghi, when they had a great game.”
Under Claudio Borghi in September 2011, Chile went 2-0 up against Spain, before La Roja’s second-half comeback brought the scoreline back in their favour for a 3-2 result.
