Copa America preview: Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia wants Ecuador to rise above money squabbles

Ecuador, who are in Group A, need to reunite and get over the recriminations which followed their disappointing World Cup performance last year if they improve on a shocking recent record at the Copa America.

Antonio Valencia, right, of Manchester United battles for the ball with James Ward-Prowse of Southampton during their Premier League match at Old Trafford on January 11, 2015 in Manchester, England. (Show more

Ecuador need to reunite and get over the recriminations which followed their disappointing World Cup performance last year if they improve on a shocking recent record at the Copa America.

Ecuador were the only South American team eliminated in the group stage in Brazil and their early exit was followed by reports of bickering in the camp over bonus money.

Forward Antonio Valencia denied there was trouble, saying each player had agreed to be paid a percentage calculated on the amount of time he had played during the World Cup qualifiers. However, Jefferson Montero gave an interview in which he said that some of the squad were too focused on money.

Photo gallery 12 players to watch at Copa America

Both players were left out of the post-World Cup friendlies under caretaker coach Sixto Vizuete but are back under new coach Gustavo Quinteros, a former Bolivia international appointed on a long-term basis in March to replace Reinaldo Rueda.

Ecuador have played at three of the last four World Cups, having never appeared before 2002, however the Copa America has turned into something of a bogey tournament for them.

They have been eliminated at the first hurdle in every tournament since 1997 and failed to win a game on their last three appearances. They have to go back to 2001 to find their last success, a 4-0 victory over Venezuela.

Previous appearances 24 (first in 1939)

Best performance Fourth place (1959, 1993)

Key player Jefferson Montero

Usually to be found on the left wing, Montero’s speed, trickery and electric finishing make him an instant crowd pleaser and he can be unplayable on his day.

The 25-year-old has shown plenty of flashes of his ability during his first season with English Premier League Swansea City, although some nagging injuries have hampered his progress.

His early career was hampered by a rather too many club changes.

Already, he has played at Emelec and Independiente Jose Teran at home, been loaned to Sinaloa in Mexico, moved to Villarreal in Spain, then loaned to Levante and Betis. He finally settled down by spending two years at Morelia in Mexico before earning a move to Swansea, helping them enjoy a season way above expectations.

Coach Gustavo Quinteros

The 50-year-old came to Ecuador in 2012 to coach Guayaquil side Emelec and quickly made an impact, leading the Electrics to successive Ecuadorean championship titles in 2013 and 2014.

That was enough to persuade the Ecuadorean federation that he was the man to replace Reinaldo Rueda, who stepped down after the 2014 World Cup, and he took charge in March, taking over from caretaker coach Sixto Vizuete.

Born in Argentina, Quinteros took out Bolivian nationality after moving there to play club football. He played for his adopted country on their last World Cup appearance in 1994 and coached them from 2010 to 2012.

His coaching career has also taken him to San Lorenzo and San Martin in Argentina and Blooming, Bolivar and Oriente Petrolero in Bolivia.

Squad

Goalkeepers Alexander Dominguez (LDU Quito), Esteban Dreer (Emelec), Librado Azcona (Independiente del Valle)

Defenders Juan Carlos Paredes (Watford), Frickson Erazo (Gremio), Gabriel Achilier, Oscar Bagui, Jhon Narvaez (all Emelec), Walter Ayovi (Pachuca), Arturo Mina, Mario Pineda (Independiente del Valle)

Midfielders Cristhian Noboa (PAOK Salonika), Renato Ibarra (Vitesse Arnhem), Osbaldo Lastra (Emelec), Fidel Martinez (UNAM Pumas), Jonathan Gonzales (UG Leones Negros), Michael Arroyo (America), Juan Cazares (Banfield), Pedro Quinonez (Emelec)

Forwards Enner Valencia (West Ham United), Jaime Ayovi (Godoy Cruz), Jefferson Montero (Swansea City), Miler Bolanos (Emelec)

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