Solano predicts difficult times for new Peru coach

LIMA, July 27 (Reuters) Outspoken midfielder Nolberto Solano has predicted difficult times ahead for new Peru coach Jose del Solar, who took over the position on Tuesday.

The Newcastle United player said in a newspaper interview on Thursday that the 39-year-old Del Solar could suffer a similar fate to predecessor Julio Cesar Uribe, who was fired last week after only four months in charge.

''He's a young coach and he has certainly reached the national team bench on merit,'' Solano told the sports newspaper Libero.

''But he could be faced with the same outlook as Julio Cesar, where he wins one game, loses two, the directors panic and suffers the same fate.'' ''We hope that things go well for him because we all want to go to the World Cup,'' said Solano, whose country have not played at soccer's biggest tournament since 1982.

''But it's difficult, because they (the directors) don't respect long-term projects,'' he added ''Even if they pick (Jose) Mourinho, (Alex) Ferguson or (Fabio) Capello, it will always be difficult to qualify for a World Cup amid scenes of disorder and improvisation.'' Solano last played for Peru in 2005 and was not picked during Uribe's seven-match reign.

Uribe, previously in charge in 2000-2001 was dismissed one week after his side lost 4-0 to Argentina in the Copa America quarter-finals.

Reuters BJR VP0600