Erick Pulgar responds to Esteban Paredes regarding alleged mental fragilities.
Flamengo midfielder Erick Pulgar reacted with surprise to statements made by Esteban Paredes, the all-time leading scorer in Chilean football history.
The controversy arose after Paredes criticized Pulgar‘s refusal to be called up for the Chile national team, labeling the player’s attitude as a sign of ‘mental fragility’.
Pulgar, in turn, hit back at the former striker, questioning the validity of an analysis made without prior contact.
Controversy Over Call-up
Erick Pulgar‘s decision not to report for the Chile national team for a series of friendly matches generated significant backlash.
Esteban Paredes, in an interview with the program ‘Tipsters,’ expressed his opinion forcefully. According to the Chilean idol, if the reason for Pulgar‘s absence was fear of fan criticism, he would consider the player mentally fragile.
‘Pulgar isn’t going to the national team because he’s been heavily criticized, that’s what he said. If that’s the reason, I consider him very mentally fragile. Obviously, soccer players are subject to criticism. People will always criticize, for better or worse, and you have to be aware of that.’
‘If Pulgar doesn’t want to play for the national team because he’ll be booed, I’d never call him up again. It’s not an obligation to play for the national team, but it’s something that needs to come from within the player,’ stated Paredes.
Pulgar Defends Himself
In an interview with the portal ‘O Globo,’ Erick Pulgar expressed his bewilderment at Paredes‘ statements.
The Flamengo player emphasized that he has never had a conversation with the former striker, which makes the psychological analysis questionable.
‘I found it a bit funny, mainly because Esteban has never spoken to me. So he managed to analyze my mental strength without even asking me what happened. A rather complete diagnosis.’
‘He also spoke about the pressure of playing for Chile, and we come back to the same point: I’ve been playing professional soccer for years, I spent eight years in Europe,’ declared Pulgar.
The Chilean midfielder also recalled his career in European football and his participation in crucial matches, such as the Copa Libertadores final, to reinforce that he is accustomed to dealing with pressure.
‘I’ve played decisive matches and a Copa Libertadores final. I’ve had to face some pressure.’
‘I have great respect for what Esteban did as a soccer player, but if he wanted to know what was happening with me, it would have been much easier to ask me than to do a psychological analysis on television,’ the athlete concluded.
Context of Pulgar’s Absence
Despite being in good form with Flamengo, Erick Pulgar has been absent from Chile national team call-ups.
The player’s decision to refuse call-ups for friendlies came at a time when Chile failed to qualify for the World Cup.
The national team’s coach, Nicolás Córdova, publicly confirmed the refusal.
The president of the Chilean Federation, Pablo Milad, also commented on the case, indicating that Pulgar‘s decision was related to discomfort with the treatment he and his family received.
The last time Erick Pulgar wore the national team jersey was in October 2024, in South American Qualifiers matches against Bolivia and Colombia.
The exchange of barbs between Erick Pulgar and Esteban Paredes adds another chapter to the saga of national team call-ups and the pressures surrounding soccer players.
The psychological analysis of athletes’ performance and commitment, especially when made public by prominent figures, continues to be a topic of debate in the sports scene.
