Ecuador's national team returned home in the early hours of Wednesday, October 7, after completing their Asian tour, the first international experience of the new cycle under head coach Marcelo Gallardo. The delegation, including the technical staff and the president of the Ecuadorian Football Federation, Francisco Egas, landed at Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito with players based at local clubs.
Gallardo and his team concluded a tour designed to observe players, analyze variations, and advance the implementation of his playing philosophy. The sporting balance from the three matches was not positive, featuring a 3-0 loss to South Korea and two draws in the Kirin Cup that ended in penalty shootout defeats to Japan and Panama, leaving Ecuador in fourth place in the tournament. The last of those matches, on October 5, finished 1-1 against Panama.
Scouting in Liga Pro
Following the return, the Argentine manager will remain in Ecuador to closely follow the Liga Pro. His immediate plan includes visiting clubs, strengthening ties with league coaches, and observing new players who could be called up for the November FIFA window. The goal is to expand the player pool and continue building the national team's new project. Analysis from the tour showed the team maintained an average ball possession of 58 minutes per game, a key metric the technical staff will assess for upcoming challenges.
Among the players who returned to the capital were Gonzalo Valle from Liga de Quito, and Jordy Alcívar and Deinner Ordóñez from Independiente del Valle. Other squad members travelled directly to their clubs abroad. The tour allowed the technical staff to gather valuable information and evaluate alternatives for the national team's upcoming challenges. The team also registered an average of 12 shots per game during the tour, a statistic that will be analyzed to improve offensive effectiveness.
Gallardo's tenure has begun with a record of one win, two draws, and two losses in the last five matches, a sequence that reflects a period of transition. Fans can review the full results history and upcoming schedule on our fixtures page, while detailed squad analysis is available on squad. The team now focuses on preparation for November's fixtures, with opponents yet to be confirmed.
Read the full report at Bendito Fútbol
