SEATTLE - Ecuador manager Gustavo Quinteros said that his team will be without forward Miller Bolanos for its Copa America Centenario quarterfinal against the United States, and that Jaime Ayovi would be a game time decision.
Bolanos was injured in Ecuador's 2-2 draw back on June. 8, while Ayovi had to be replaced in the 4-0 win over Haiti at half-time.
"This is a team where we need to have players who will last 90 minutes," said Quinteros at his pregame news conference.
"It's a little more complicated. Maybe Jaime [Ayovi] can start. Yesterday he felt some pain. Today he felt better. We have to see. We have 24 hours to think about it. We'll have to see how it can be better or which players will have the conditions to better the team."
Quinteros will welcome centre-back Gabriel Achilier from suspension, but he declined to state whether it would be Achilier or Frickson Erazo partnering Arturo Mina in the heart of defense.
"We're playing against a strong national team, we need to have players who are strong enough to win," he said. "We will decide tomorrow who will start."
Ecuador will be facing an U.S. side in front of a partisan crowd that will likely exceed 50,000.
When it was pointed out that the U.S. had never lost at CenturyLink Field, Quinteros responded laughing, "Ecuador has never lost in this stadium either."
He added, "None of our players are afraid, but we are very motivated. The whole country is behind us. It's been a long time since we've been at this stage."
Quinteros was also full of praise for the U.S. team, one that rebounded to win the group following its 2-0 defeat to Colombia in the opening match of the tournament.
"The US are very organized, very well structured," he said. "They really work with the defense, they have practiced, they train very well. Their tactics work, it will be very difficult, it will not be easy."
"Their speed is amazing, and they have a very effective game; [Clint] Dempsey, the wings, or near the goal area," he said. "They are amazing and do a very good job. We have to be on our toes to anticipate and not allow any dribbles."