Brazil vs Ecuador - Coutinho will not allow speculation to interfere with Brazil commitments

Posted Thursday, August 31, 2017 by PA

Barcelona target Philippe Coutinho is not letting mounting speculation over his future distract him from his international duties, insists Brazil goalkeeping coach Claudio Taffarel.

Coutinho, whose transfer request was turned down earlier this month, is desperate to force his dream move to Spain after Barcelona had three bids rejected and has yet to feature for Liverpool this season.

Amid the controversy, Coutinho has been included in Brazil's squad for Friday's World Cup qualifier in Port Alegre against Ecuador when the Selecao can all but guarantee finishing top of the South American group with victory.

Coutinho is not expected to start, but he was passed fit to play by Brazil's medical staff despite an alleged back injury and is likely to be included in coach Tite's squad.

"I am seeing him (in) great serenity," former World Cup winner Taffarel told SporTV. "He is very calm, very calm.

"The player is accustomed, in this period, to live in this type of situation. I also experienced that.

"Each (player) has an entrepreneur, a person who takes care of the business. He's in here, totally back, with his head in the games. I've seen him training very well."

Brazil became the first team to qualify for next summer's finals in Russia back in March when they beat Paraguay 3-0 and Tite has all his other stars, including Neymar, available.

Neymar will play in his first international since completing his world-record move to Paris Saint-Germain, while club team-mates Marquinhos, Thiago Silva and Daniel Alves are all hoping to start.

Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus is also expected to feature, but there is still no place in the squad for Chelsea defender David Luiz.

Tite has transformed Brazil, winning eight straight qualifying games since taking charge and his side stands nine points clear of second-placed Colombia with four qualifying games to play.

Brazil will play Colombia in another qualifier in Barranquilla on Tuesday.

Ecuador, who will be without injured Swansea winger Jefferson Montero, are in danger of failing to qualify.

Head coach Gustavo Quinteros' side are currently two points behind fifth-placed Argentina after being held 1-1 at home against rock-bottom Venezuela in their previous qualifier.

Los Amarillos have drawn one and lost eight of their previous encounters with Brazil, but experienced midfielder Pedro Quinonez remains upbeat about their qualification chances.

"We have a lot of faith that we will achieve a positive result, remember that faith moves mountains," he told the Ecuador Football Federation's official website.

"We are going to do a work at a collective level, there is no individualism in the team. We must get our tactics right for a positive result in Brazil and maintain those chances to qualify for the World Cup.

"Brazil will not give us anything, we have to give everything and look for glory to keep us with options to reach a new world."