02/10/2024 10:22 p.m. Updated on 02/10/2024 11:50 p.m.
Boca drew goalless against Defensa y Justicia this Saturday night, on their return to the Bombonera. Despite being home again on their field and in front of their people, Xeneize failed to break the equality and had to settle for the point. After the tie, Diego Martínez spoke at a press conference, where he analyzed the duel and also gave his opinion on the whistles that the public made at Frank Fabra.
“I don’t feel like we went backwards. The game went as we imagined. We faced a very physical team. For the first 15 minutes, control was shared until we were able to get them into the game much more as we wanted, and the spaces where we thought they could be to receive were there. We were imprecise to receive between the lines. But the guys looked for the sectors that we felt we could do damage, progressing inside or going on the wing in those 3 versus 2 that we were looking for.”said Martínez.
“I do think that once the team came in and controlled the game, what we lacked was a little more finesse in those combinations on the inside, and that when we overflowed on the wing we lacked more presence in the area. That’s something to deal with to work and correct. We talked about it at halftime and I think we corrected it: we had more presence, they continued with dominance, the team practically did not suffer, they played in the opponent’s field, it was given to the centre-backs giving the last pass but that is what the game leads you to,” added the DT.
Along the same lines, he highlighted that Xeneize had the necessary chances, but suffered a lot when it came to defining: “The team generated. We had shots where we were not precise. Defense began to defend lower, the team was very good. Defense works transitions among the best in Argentine football and we conceded almost none. Yes we failed in the definition, we had clear approaches, we lacked a little calm because you want to win the game, people push us, we lacked calm in those last meters. “Sometimes we choose the best option but we don’t finish it the way we wanted.”
Defense and Justice – 11-2-2024
The tie between Boca and Defense
The whistles at Fabra
A question that was not left out of the conference was that of the whistles at Fabra. The Xeneize defender was booed during the warm-up, during the exit to the playing field and when entering the game. Regarding those situations, Martínez was clear. “We talked about it. Frank is a very noble person. Very emotional, too. Without a doubt it is not the best, the intention of the change was to take advantage of those increases for him. Lauti (Blanco) was doing well but with Frank’s push we thought we could have depth on the left. Kevin (Zenón), Lautaro (Blanco), Luis (Advíncula), Lucas (Blondel) did a good job. We wanted that openness on the side with fresher people who could continue giving us unevenness. The truth is that on a day-to-day basis these kinds of situations always happen and we are going to try to turn it around together.”
Boca Juniors – 11-2-2024
The Bombonera applause meter: Advíncula and Merentiel top, Fabra whistled
Your sensations in the Bombonera
“We know what is special, in particular it is something that I dreamed of all my life. That perhaps as a footballer I was not given the hierarchy when I was at the club to fulfill that dream and I was able to fulfill it as a coach with my family on the field, feeling what it is like to be on Boca’s side in a match. I needed to win it. I needed to win that dream. “Of everything I imagined, I failed to win,” expressed Martínez, about his debut as Boca coach in La Bombonera.
Diego Martínez, in La Bombonera. (Photo: Marcelo Carroll)
Positive feedback
“I don’t have a parameter: Boca demands that today be the ideal team, and now it has to be Wednesday. I think that from the game and from what I have to analyze about the performance, we are on the right track. Obviously we tied three and won one and that It’s the anger. Of the three games, except the PT with Platense, they deserved to win. And that is not speaking from fanaticism but analyzing the performance. If I do, in the three games I could have won two clearly like today and Sarmiento, and in Platense in the second half we were superior. It’s not what we imagined, it’s not what we dreamed of, we don’t like it at all. But when you leave that feeling, the important thing is that in a new process and we analyze the performance, I think we are on the right track,” analyzed the coach, who was satisfied beyond the tie.
Finally, Martínez mentioned that he is not worried about this lack of precision in resolving plays and insisted that the team is on the right track: “I would be worried that the team does not finish plays. That we go around a lot, that we are not going to finish. I think Boca is doing well, and it is true that we are lacking a little efficiency but it is much better to work on the lack of efficiency than when one does not generate and the rival goal seems to be far away. We like that so much and we are going to work on efficiency and feeling secure in our bow. And that’s why we talk about making a balanced team: There is a very big commitment to recover the ball and against an opponent that hurts so much in offensive transitions, the team practically did not concede when building as a team. It is very annoying after four games that we have only won one and that we have not returned to the Bombonera what it gave us from its encouragement, but we are going down a path that generates good expectations for us. With a lot to grow and continue improving. The performance leaves us calm as does the commitment and dedication.”
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Merentiel, from the maximum ovation to the three chances he couldn’t score
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Controversy in La Bombonera: was it a penalty for Defense?
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