We interviewed Marcelo Márquez, sports psychologist specializing in sports psychology for the Peruvian National Football Team, who shared with us his vision of well-being, his work during Peru's qualification campaign for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, and the team's upcoming challenges on the road to the World Cup. Thank you, Marcelo!

• What did it mean to you to join the coaching staff of the Peruvian National Team in 2015?

When Ricardo (Gareca) invited me, it was a great joy because it meant reconnecting with great colleagues. I had worked with them for many years at Vélez Sarsfield, where we first met. For me, there is nothing healthier than working in a professional, relaxed, and trusting environment. That is exactly what Ricardo Gareca creates within his coaching staff: he has that wisdom. In this way, everyone is able to bring out the best in themselves.

• What does well-being mean to you? How would you define it?

I believe it has to do with the personal feeling of an individual, regardless of their role, of getting closer to situations and people that make them feel happy and allowing themselves to remain in that place. In sports specifically, the closest concept is play, which is the foundation of everything. For an athlete, well-being has a lot to do with being able to continue playing.

• What do you consider to be the psychologist’s role in sports?

In my work, I have focused greatly on developing the ability to listen. Earning the trust of a coaching staff, a football player, or any athlete is extremely important. It means they feel comfortable sharing something with us, and that we truly know how to listen. This means that sometimes we need to stop the game for a moment so that person can talk about what they are experiencing, whether it is something positive or negative, and help them find a way to deal with it.

• Do you believe there is still stigma in sports?

Yes, there are prejudices. But they are meant to be challenged. It is important to focus on different perspectives. In our case, we even created our own dictionary filled with positive words, where "pressure" and "stress" were not included. Once you remove those words and focus on positive ones, everything becomes possible.

• What role did the players’ emotional preparation play in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup?

From the coaching staff—and when I say coaching staff, I refer to Ricardo Gareca as the head coach and leader of the group—we always understood that, for the players, the most important thing was not separating the mental aspect from the football aspect, but rather working on both as a whole. That was our goal. We knew that matches are won through technical and sporting performance, while emotions are there to enhance our performance and abilities. That is, in my opinion, the secret of the mental aspect in sports: knowing how to manage situations without believing that everything must be under complete control, because that is an impossible ideal and can create frustration and dissatisfaction. Of course, this goes far beyond sports.

• What tools did you use while working with the National Team on the road to the World Cup?

We implemented many different strategies. One of the most important was creating shared spaces where both the players and the coaching staff could gather and talk openly. We made this a regular practice by creating a calm and relaxed environment to discuss the situations we would face. Everything felt very natural. One of the keys was learning how to accept success without sabotaging ourselves.

• Did you work with the players individually or as a group? Was there anything specific you worked on to strengthen team spirit?

Sometimes the work was individual, and sometimes it was group-based, depending on the situation. The real protagonists of this journey were always the players. They achieved something extraordinary by qualifying for the World Cup. Some were experiencing their very first call-up or their first qualification campaign, and this was only possible because of their enormous humility, courage, and determination. They were completely convinced that qualification was possible, and what developed was an incredible chemistry and energy within the group—a dressing room where everyone wanted to be. That feeling became contagious.

This difficult challenge became possible because everyone did it for one another. That is one of the greatest secrets. There is no point in facing such an important challenge alone. It was not about one player, one goal, or one play—everyone mattered. Within the National Team, there is a strong sense of belonging, of feeling useful and respected. It becomes a place where everyone wants to be and give their very best. These players made each other better. Regardless of their backgrounds or personal stories, none of that mattered.

• At the beginning, how did the players respond to working on the mental and emotional side? Did they understand its importance?

The working environment was always one of great respect for the psychologist’s role. I found my place within the group. We had designated moments for our work, and everything happened naturally. Meetings, videos, and group activities were already part of the team's planning, so they became an integral part of the overall preparation, rather than something separate. That made the psychologist’s role, methods, and tools feel completely natural. The topics emerged organically as the qualification campaign progressed. I found that very genuine because the psychologist’s role is largely about adapting to what the group and each situation require.

• You mentioned that you enjoy collecting images from the matches and showing them to the team afterward. What does this create?

Both the coaching staff and the players decided to write our own story. Our story includes photos, videos, matches, and unforgettable moments. The idea was to create a large photo wall displaying the entire qualification journey. Everyone who wore the National Team jersey contributed something important to this achievement. We wanted to become the authors of our own story instead of carrying everyone else’s expectations. That allows you to feel lighter.

• How would you describe Peruvian fans as a collective? Did the expectations influence the team?

They certainly did. The fans became deeply connected with the National Team and identified with it. What we received from them was unconditional support. But could we carry the expectations of 30 million Peruvians on our shoulders? No. We understood there was enormous excitement about qualifying for the World Cup, but we had to manage that internally so it would not distract or overwhelm us.

The healthiest approach for any football player—or any athlete, and this is advice I would gladly give—is to understand that when you play without carrying everyone else’s expectations, you play much more freely. If we keep adding weight to that backpack, we start fearing that we will disappoint others. Once you reduce that burden, you realize that you are simply going out to play a football match. Someone may say, "But this is a World Cup qualifier." Yes—but it is still a football match. And what have I been doing since I was five years old? Playing football. "But you'll be playing in a packed stadium against a great team." Yes—but it is still a football match. Choosing to think this way is healthy. The alternative is not.

• What are your goals for Peru's participation in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia?

My goal is simply to continue. It is like watching a series on Netflix. The 2017 season ended, and now we are starting the 2018 season, with many new episodes ahead—one of them being Russia. We want to keep growing. There will be different opponents and different environments, but we already have something that works, and we will continue building on it. We are a team. The word "team" comes from the old Germanic word equipe, which referred to the people who boarded the same ship with a shared destination. Now we have all boarded the same ship, heading toward Russia: the players, the coaching staff, the federation, the fans—everyone.