The technical director of Boca, Sebastián Battaglia, pointed against Augustine Almond and the juvenile Alan Varelaboth separated from the professional team and lowered to the reserve division for different acts of indiscipline, and said that they must take responsibility for their reactions and behaviors. “There are rules to comply with and whoever does not comply with them will have consequences. They have to take responsibility” warned the coach shortly before the team’s trip to Córdoba where Boca will face Central Córdoba de Rosario this Wednesday, for the 32nd. final of the Argentine Cup,
“There were two different acts of indiscipline and we made a decision. The club has rules and you have to comply with them. Today (for this Tuesday) the two trained with the Reserve”, Battaglia explained and then added: “Today it’s up to me to decide . They were two different situations, it is not necessary to go further, I will not give details. They will have to take responsibility for the things they did,” said the coach.
Battaglia knows the youth from his time as Reserve DT although the reactions of recent weeks led him to make this decision. In the case of Almendra, who insulted him in front of the other players, it is difficult for him to continue in Boca in the short term and he could continue his career in Brazilian football or in the MLS in the United States. Varela’s future is more diffuse for now, but it is estimated that the club will wait to see what his behavior is like before putting him up for sale.
“It has touched me and I don’t need anyone to tell me what Boca’s Primera is like. But as a coaching staff we have some rules to follow and here we have to take care of each one of the things we do,” said Battaglia, who also said: “I was clear with the entire squad regarding the rules that we have to comply with and what we want for our team. Whoever wants to join is welcome. And whoever does not comply with them will have consequences. We lowered a line and we were clear in what we talked about. From there, each one decides his way, “he said.
In addition, he recalled a phrase from Carlos Bianchi, who directed him in several steps in his career as a soccer player, about “once” he lifts you from the shoulder to join the group and the “second” no longer. “I completely agree with what Carlos Bianchi said. It is what has to be done. We have a line that we already discussed with everyone. We know what we want for our team, for our group. Everyone who does things will have to take responsibility for their consequences.”
For his part, Juan Román Riquelme, the second vice president of the institution and head of the Football Council, traveled with the squad to Córdoba, to be close to Battaglia in the midst of the new disciplinary crisis. The position of technician was also endorsed by the referents of the campus so his figure does not seem to have been damaged after the outbreak on Monday.