“It was the most important game of the year.” What does it mean to “win like Boca” for Diego Martínez and what urges him to improve his team

Diego Martinez He left La Bombonera again with a smile and more air. Not because she was on the tightrope (He only completed his tenth commitment in Boca), but you need your team to give you positive results more consistently and, indeed, peace of mind to work better. In this way, generate mutual trust with your team. “We have a final right away to be able to reverse what happened to us,” the coach had warned when last Wednesday he was defeated by Unión, in Santa Fe (0-1). His whole was more than Racingrecovered when the result was turned around and could have won by a result greater than the 4-2 achieved. An approved own -and collective- exam.

BOCA REACTED IN TIME WITH THE POWER OF THE GAME IN AN ELECTRIFING CLASSIC AND LEFT RACING VERY COMPLICATED

Martínez is not afraid to accept that in Santa Fe “It was our worst game”and sentence: “Today (last night) I don’t feel like it was the best,” as he expressed in the press conference after the victory.

“It was one of those games that I don’t know if they mark you with fire, but in which they do. The display of character we had is very important. We talked about it with the boys in the previous talk: The Union thing had to leave us with learning as a group. In Argentine soccer the games are more or less simple depending on how you play them. If the team had the intensity that it showed in other games, If we had our teeth clenched again, we would be able to pull off this classic. The learning was to understand that, week after week, there is a final that is the most important”, detailed the path he took when looking into the eyes of his teammates to lift them up for the duel with Racing. So, another conclusion: “It was the most important game of the year. Not because it was Racing and we were at home, but because it was the one who played.”

That is the mentality that the Boca coach wants to instill in his team. It’s the way he wants his whole life to live. A victory like this does not satisfy him nor does the focus shift: “It was an open, entertaining match against an opponent that has a lot of offensive vocation and that forces you to go stick by stick. My feeling is that we generated more opportunities than Racing in a contested match. The team can play more. We want him to play more. Not better, but longer, sustain holdings. Being able to play in both bands. Have greater control of the game.”

Edinson Cavani scored at La Bombonera for the second consecutive game, but he agreed with his coach’s analysis and the need to maintain an intense identity.Gonzalo Colini – THE NATION

Even, Edinson Cavaniscorer of the third xeneize goal, conveyed that need to assert themselves collectively to get into the main quartet of zone B of this League Cup, which has just four games left until it knows its qualifiers for the quarterfinals. “Boca has to be a more solid team, that repeats game by game an identity like the one we saw today (for this Sunday)”, agreed the Uruguayan star when speaking publicly once the 4-2 was consummated.

The speech is no coincidence: the word “intensity” is repeated indoors again. “Having that covers up some mistakes. Many things happen in football and inside we have to be strong to reverse situations. “How intense you are, many times it helps you get out of difficult situations.”explained No. 10, who alluded to the goals by Juan Fernando Quintero and Adrián Martínez that had to be recovered: “We were blocked at one point because they turned the game around, but we had a strong head to win it again.”

In that tune, Martínez did emphasize that this collective mentality is what has shaped him the most since the tournament began: “Because of the emotion and because it is a classic, that was very important. Let’s hope our best game is next week. Today (yesterday) was positive from the attitude, the group, and their commitment. They always have it, but in every ball divided today it was seen that the team did not stop running and neutralizing. I think the changes have also helped us find solutions at the right times,” he concluded his analysis of the victory.

Although, at the same time, there was one fundamental concept left on the table: For him, how do you beat Boca? “For me, it is winning with the intensity with which we did it. Without a doubt. And with this contraction when it comes to not having the ball. But we need to dominate our rival more”he insisted on his search.

In front of the “Academy” he opted for the appearances of Mauricio Benítez and Luca Langoni to accompany the already starters Jabes Saralegui, Cristian Medina and Nicolás Valentini. He even gave minutes to Aaron Anselmino in the second half and needed the entry of goalkeeper Leandro Brey due to Javier García’s injury. “These guys grew up in a club that requires you to be with your teeth clenched. Mauri’s game was more than acceptable. We didn’t know each other with Lea, but we are happy that he has added minutes in goal. Everyone sees the conditions that Aaron has. I like how it’s focused, how serious it is. If they do not confuse the path and go with a very clear direction, they have something very important, which is the training in this club: it gives you a plus,” he distributed praise.

Martínez had warned that the match with Racing was “a final” and his team gave him the pleasure of understanding the message that was behind closed doors after losing to Unión.Manuel Cortina – THE NATION

In fact, Medina ended up as captain, something he also valued: “They decided it. Nico was also there [Valentini]. They are both calm, with their feet on the ground, they have just had a good Pre-Olympic. I like that, the seriousness with which they take each training session. The kids are important to this institution. “Everyone has to take small, short, but positive steps.”

On the other hand, he flattered the experienced, especially Marcos Rojo: “The hug I gave him at the end was more out of gratitude. He was just discharged this week. It is very important in everyday life: You do a tenure job and the guy jumps head first. Every moment he trains, he plays a final. We liked having him in the concentration and on the bench: I told him he wasn’t going to come in and we hoped nothing would happen so we wouldn’t have to risk him.” “He’s a leader. Our captain. As is Sergio [Romero]‘Pol’ [Fernández] o Edi [Cavani]. They are the ones who set the course for where we want to go and what we want to build as a group,” he concluded.

La Bombonera had a moment of claiming attitude, but it ended with pure applause and closing a party. Diego Martínez breathes. Not only because of the three points, but because his team gave him a performance similar to what he intends: intense and with a head full of strengths to show the ability to carry out not only a match, but also a captivating classic.

Franco Tossi

Themes

Diego Martínez DTMundo BocaEdinson CavaniMarcos RojoCristian Medina

Other news from Diego Martínez DT

Changes in the premises. Boca and Racing contrast their impatience in a scenario that suits them both

Riquelme spoke. Self-criticism for the defeat against Unión, why he was not coach and what he thinks of Cavani

No margin of error. The five questions to which Boca seeks answers after the tough defeat against Unión