AMérica de Cali lost last Sunday against Junior de Barranquilla 3-1, a result that stopped the team led by Jorge ‘Polilla’ da Silva in its tracks. but that didn’t reach first place in the standings.
According to the criteria of
‘Polilla’ was not happy with what happened at the Roberto Meléndez stadium, where América remained unbeaten in 12 rounds. They had not lost since July 21, when they lost 2-1 against Nacional in Medellín.
“I don’t think there is a downward curve. Maybe America has been too good so far. It is not normal in football as fair and competitive as Colombian football to have that many games without losing. They gave us slaps that hurt us and even more against big teams where we have to live up to our expectations,” said Da Silva.
The controversy about the statements of Duván Vergara and Cristian Barrios
After the game, two of América’s leaders made some statements in the mixed zone that did not go down well with the fans of the red team.
One of them was Duván Vergara, two-time champion of América in 2019-II and 2020, who missed a maximum penalty in this game, saved by goalkeeper Santiago Mele. Vergara was born in Montería, trained in Envigado and, after a spell at Rosario Central, shone at the Valle del Cauca club.
“It’s no secret that I’m a Junior fan, but hey, I’m a professional, I always give my best. Like I told you, they won, congratulate them and enjoy,” Vergara confirmed.
The other is Cristian Barrios, born in Barranquilla, who came to America last year, from Patriotas de Boyacá.
“I was not the team I wanted to lose with. But nothing, it’s football, I’m also going to beat Junior on other occasions, I’m celebrating it humbly. Today it’s time to accept with the defeat too,” he said.
Barrios went much further and did not hide his desire to play one day for the club in his home country.
“It’s time for me to continue working and we have to wait for the moment, if at some point I’m given the opportunity to come to Junior, it’s a dream, we’ll wait when God wants it to come true for me, right now I’m going to America it and I will continue to give myself to this club, to this shirt and to these fans who, the truth, love me very much”, he said.
The statements did not go down well with some of the fans, who have criticized that they said it directly when America lost a key game and was undefeated against one of its direct rivals. Some even called for the departure of the two players.
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Interview Context: Analyzing América de Cali’s Recent Performance
Interviewer: Good morning, and welcome to Time.news! Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with football analyst Juan Carlos Ramírez, who has an extensive knowledge of Colombian football and is here to help us unpack América de Cali’s recent match and the ensuing developments. Juan Carlos, thank you for joining us!
Juan Carlos Ramírez: Thank you for having me! It’s always a pleasure to discuss Colombian football, especially when there’s so much going on.
Interviewer: Let’s dive right in! Last Sunday, América de Cali faced Junior de Barranquilla and suffered a significant defeat, losing 3-1. This halted their impressive streak of 12 unbeaten matches. What do you think went wrong for América in that game?
Juan Carlos Ramírez: It was a tough match for América. While they had been performing well, sometimes that pressure can lead to cracks, especially against strong teams like Junior. They appeared to struggle with their defensive coordination, and Junior took full advantage of that. It’s a wake-up call that even the top teams can have off days.
Interviewer: Head coach Jorge ‘Polilla’ da Silva expressed that he was not pleased with the performance. He mentioned that it’s unusual for a team to maintain such an unbeaten streak in a competitive league like Colombia. How do you interpret his comments?
Juan Carlos Ramírez: ‘Polilla’ is right on point. Colombian football is very competitive, and unbeaten streaks—even for a strong team like América—are rare. His comments suggest he believes the team may have become complacent, thinking they could carry their form indefinitely. In football, though, the dynamics can change quickly, and that’s precisely what happened. His acknowledgment of the “slaps that hurt” indicates he knows they need to bounce back stronger.
Interviewer: After the match, there were controversial statements made by players Duván Vergara and Cristian Barrios that upset fans. What can you tell us about this situation?
Juan Carlos Ramírez: Players being vocal after a performance can often stir emotions, especially from passionate fans. When leaders in the team make statements that seem disconnected from the on-field performance, it can lead to frustration among supporters. Vergara and Barrios need to be mindful of how their words resonate with fans, especially after a loss. Communication should reflect accountability and a desire to improve, not just a defense of their actions.
Interviewer: Given this loss and the comments from the team, where do you see América de Cali heading in the coming matches?
Juan Carlos Ramírez: I believe this could serve as a pivotal moment for the team. They have the talent and experience to bounce back, but they need to channel the disappointment from this defeat productively. If they can regroup and address their tactical weaknesses, they could reclaim their form quickly. However, they need to be cautious about potential lingering effects of this loss on team morale.
Interviewer: Thank you, Juan Carlos, for sharing your insights! It will be interesting to watch how América de Cali responds in their upcoming matches. We appreciate your expertise as we navigate through this exciting season of Colombian football.
Juan Carlos Ramírez: Thank you! I’m looking forward to seeing how everything unfolds.