Marcelino Nunez deserves a second chance for Chile after his sending off for making contact with a referee last month.
That's the call from now ex-Chile boss Eduardo Berrizo - who resigned from his post as head coach of the national team after their goalless draw with Paraguay on Friday.
Nunez missed that game through suspension after being red-carded in their defeat to Venezuela during the October international break - which saw him heavily criticised in his homeland.
The Norwich City midfielder was suspended for Berizzo's final game in charge of Chile, with the Argentinean announcing his resignation during his post-match press conference.
Before the game, Berizzo was asked about why he had controversially recalled Nunez to his squad after such a costly error and spoke in support of City's man - citing the importance of second chances.
“I was able to talk to him. The footballer knows immediately when he makes a mistake. He made a mistake that complicated the game and what we needed, but I believe in second chances,” Berizzo told RedGol.
“When someone makes a mistake they deserve to be heard. A technical error does not sentence a footballer's call-up, but he must learn from what happened and not repeat it.”
12 of Nunez' 21 international appearances have come under Berizzo - with Chile announcing that Nicolás Córdova will take temporary charge whilst a successor is found.
Nunez awaits the implications of a managerial change - but will be hoping to prove himself against Ecuador. Chile are in desperate need of results and currently sit third from bottom in the South America qualification for the World Cup.
Announcing his departure after the Paraguay stalemate, Berizzo was clear that he had failed to execute the job he was brought in to do.
“I have just spoken with the president of the Federation, Pablo Milad, and I have expressed my desire to leave office," the ex-Chile boss said. "The results have not been as expected, and it is worth recognizing that things haven't worked the way I wanted.
“I would like to thank all the people who have worked with me, my closest collaborators, the coaching staff, the workers because they have committed their work to the National Team, and above all, thank fundamentally the players who have committed themselves to this process, and I wish you the best of luck."
