2023-09-29 04:57:00
After the 0-0 draw between Boca Juniors and Palmeiras for the first semifinals of the Copa Libertadores, coach Jorge Almirón highlighted the work of his team, minimized the lack of goals, and the Superclásico beat River Plate.
The coach acknowledged that he was surprised by the Brazilian squad that played without area reference and that made it complicated at times: “The team played a great game, we played against a great rival, it was complicated from the beginning, they did not play with 9, they played without 9 with (Raphael) Veiga thrown back so the midfielders did a great job. Our center backs had no reference, but the players adjusted it on the field.”
In addition, he recognized Xeneize’s performance on several occasions and assured that they deserved to win: “We had clear chances and they practically did not generate much for us, despite having young and fast players. We deserved to win, at least with a minimal difference, because we had clear chances and I am very satisfied,” he said.
At the press conference he was asked about a phrase by Abel Ferreira, who in his turn to appear, assured that the situations created by Boca Juniors were due to errors by Palmeiras and not due to the merit of the Argentine team. It was there that Almirón dedicated a dart to him: “I’m not interested in what he says, my analysis is different,” he began and added: “The coach (of Palmeiras) talks a lot, he is conflictive… He is a good coach, he has very good players, but it is going to be a very strong semifinal, we also have men used to playing on difficult courts.”
Almirón was asked about the changes, especially about the departure of Valentín Barco, who was one of the figures on the field and was replaced with 20 minutes remaining. He explained that they were all due to fatigue: “They made a great effort and at one point they had to refresh the attack,” with the exception of Marcos Rojo, who was injured. “It bothered him, I think a little fatigue too, I think it’s not serious but as a precaution it was time to go out, we’ll see in the studio what comes out and by Thursday we think it will be there.”
*Almirón’s memory of the last Superclásico
Before Thursday’s rematch in Brazil, Xeneize must play the Superclásico against River Plate on Sunday at La Bombonera and the question is which team will stop for that momentous duel for the League Cup. The coach made it clear that this match is not minor and did not give any clues about the possible 11, although he anticipated that the formation will plant it according to how his players finished this Thursday’s match. “It depends on the physical part, the team ran a lot today, we will see how they recover. If I ask, I ask the players, surely they will all want to play, but starting tomorrow, calmly, we will see how they are. You have to take care of them, because it is not the idea that everyone plays and gets hurt and misses Thursday. We will see what is best to form a great team and win at home.” And he made it clear: “Whoever gets to play will represent the team very well.”
It was there that he took the opportunity to remember the last precedent against Millonario, a 1-0 defeat at the Mas Monumental with a penalty on the closing that Miguel Borja changed for a goal: “We all know that it was a robbery, it was not even reviewed in the VAR again , a situation that is quite difficult to accept, it was a long time ago but we have it pending and we hope to win on Sunday.”
On the other hand, he minimized the lack of goals from his forwards, especially from Edinson Cavani, who in 10 games barely has a shout: “We created several situations, it was a great game for the forwards. Cavani did a great job, a great job for the team, the possibility is open for next Thursday. And the players were left with that feeling, the games are close in the Cup, there are not many goals. They practically didn’t reach us and we did have chances.” And he was excited: “It’s going to be like that there, we are one goal away and we can score one goal because we are going to generate chances.”
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