MIAMI, Florida – The Third Place Match of the 2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals on Sunday night at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado will see Central American rivals Costa Rica and Honduras face off in what should be a memorable affair.

For the two coaches involved, Fabian Coito of Honduras and Costa Rica’s Ronald Gonzalez, the pressure that comes with leading a team in this rivalry is something they each embrace.

“It is always wonderful to be involved in these types of matches, because of their history or because for what’s at stake,” said Coito in an exclusive interview with Concacaf.com.

“There is always a great responsibility and a nice sensation. This is why we are in football. There is always so much that goes on around these games, but that is all part of it and those of us involved know how to live with that,” added Coito.

“As a coach I managed against Honduras at the Under-20 and Under-23 level and now at the senior team level. I want to enjoy the match, enjoy it at a sporting level because when two good teams play each other with good players and good coaches, one grows as a professional,’ said Gonzalez to Concacaf.com.

Gonzalez also had the distinction of going against Honduras as a player, notably in the semifinals of the first ever Concacaf Gold Cup in 1991 in a match that ended 2-0 in favor of the Catrachos.

The Ticos boss noted the fierce nature of the rivalry, but that it is one in which there is also a great deal of respect.

“What first comes to mind are all the games that I had as a player against Honduras and how we approached them as the Central American ‘clasico’. It is a very strong sporting rivalry. It is a match that is very difficult, very emotional, with a lot of sacrifice. We are always respectful toward Honduras and we know that Honduras respects us,” said Gonzalez.

For Coito, Sunday’s contest is also an opportunity to expand on the solid performance his team showed in Thursday’s narrow semifinal defeat to the United States.

“I liked the order and the application of the ideas that we had against a good opponent, and how that opened up spaces for us and allowed us to have scoring chances. If we could have scored goals, that would have changed things tactically, but there was a conviction and a belief in the idea and the character to take things forward,” concluded Coito.