Jose Pekerman believes there's no favourite in Colombia's semi-final against Chile

Jose Pekerman is an old-school manager, and his traditionalism is responsible for undermining Chile's efforts since the turn of the millennium. Not in 16 years has La Roja been able to defeat a team managed by Pekerman, a statistic that bodes well for Colombia's chances as Los Cafeteros prepare to take on Chile in the Copa America Centenario's semi-finals.

Pekerman, however, insisted at a press conference on Tuesday that Colombia nor Chile is the favourite for the battle, which will take place at Soldier Field.

"I never make predictions about the favourite, we know what football is like," Pekerman said, according to Tom Marshall of ESPN FC. "You have to look at the history, these games are equal. There isn't one team that dominates because of the equality and competitiveness of the players."

Regarding Chile's inability to defeat a team managed by Pekerman since the turn of the millennium, the Argentinian manager insisted it's not because of his style of play, saying: "Sometimes there are coincidences. We're playing the champion of America, one of the best generations of Chilean football and one that has years working collectively."

A taxi driver in Buenos Aires, Argentina before he found a coaching role, Pekerman's tactics are, as Jonathan Wilson of the Guardian explains, defined by an enganche, a No. 10 who plays behind two strikers. But after Colombia looked hopelessly disjointed with two strikers in 2018 World Cup qualifying, the Argentinian manager started using Carlos Bacca as a lone striker, resulting in a fearsome partnership between James Rodriguez and Bacca.

So, for all Pekerman's traditionalism, he is still flexible, willing to alter his tactics if they help Colombia.