The defeat in Brazil, for the Copa Sudamericana, It generated greater concern for Boca about certain football performances (whether individual or block) than for numerical reasons that condition their future in international competition. But Diego Martínez’s team, beyond having taken several steps forward in the game with respect to the cycles of Jorge Almirón, Hugo Ibarra and Sebastián Battaglia, repeats specific failures that do not allow it to be reliable as a team.
Of the last 14 games, Boca did not receive goals in just four of them: the defeat against Central Norte for the Argentine Cup (3-0), the goalless draw against Nacional de Potosí in Bolivia (0-0) and the victories against Sportivo Trinidense and Godoy Cruz, both 1-0. In all but against the Salta team, there was a moment when they suffered. For different reasons, lack of clarity and precision in the passes or defensive coverage or, as against Tomba, due to the innocent expulsion of Cristian Medina in the first half that conditioned the subsequent development of the game.
But on that route, Lanús, Belgrano, Racing, Unión and San Lorenzo they hurt him with little. The same for Estudiantes: the match was 0-0 and was resolved with a dead ball: after a corner, Javier Correa defeated Chiquito Romero’s resistance. It is true that against the Academia and the Ciclón they were at a disadvantage and managed to reverse the score, but they gave advantages. Advantages from which they do not always find – from collective functioning – tools to recover.
Boca attacks better, has firepower in its forwards Edinson Cavani and Miguel Merentiel and not only because they build themselves, but because the team makes offensive movements so that they have several scoring chances per game. These collective and supported movements (because Martínez’s team arrives from the sides but putting many people in the rival area) originate from the wings Advíncula and Lautaro Blanco and continue, generally, from the feet of Kevin Zenón, one of the best reinforcements of the Riquelme management.
Boca’s defensive errors in Brazil
One of Boca’s main problems is that, after the departure of Alan Varela, they play without 5. Several transfer markets have passed, but the team continues to feel it. Equi Fernández and Medina can be good offensive (interior) midfielders, but they are not 5. It was very evident in the classic against River in Mendoza, when after the opening minutes Diego Martínez had to castle the positions of Equi Fernández with Pol Fernández, so that the latter ends up being located as the axis. Guillermo Fernández is not 5 either, although he played more organized in that position since he returned from the injury. But even with his experience, Pol gives advantages there because he goes to the floor too much and exposes himself to the cards, or… he passes by the marks: does not naturally have that timing. Campuzano let that train pass a long time ago. Martínez’s Boca constantly rotates its midfielders, so sometimes there are 5 Equi, Medina, Pol or Zenón, but Not everyone can fulfill that role. There must be skill, reading of the game, anticipation of actions and speed for the execution of movements. Medina committed two infractions against Godoy Cruz, both in yellow. Decision making is important for certain roles.
It is true that many coaches dispense with the usual 5, they are not interested in having that characteristic and seek to compensate for it through a tactical resource so that the team’s recovery is done after a loss with a collective block. That may be Boca’s plan, but it doesn’t work very well for them either. That collective block, with Equi Fernández going too far and passing by (first goal from River, goals from Lanús and Fortaleza), with Medina without speed or power to return, with Pol being on the verge of some card… And, at the time To defend, Equi Fernández and Medina are exposed even due to the little physical power with which they go into contact (either to avoid fouls from their opponents or to fight to recover the ball). The starts from the back (lackadaisical and on a field in poor condition) in the first ten minutes against Fortaleza – started by Romero and followed by Equi Fernández and Medina – were disconcerting.
Another point against Boca is in central defenders who do not offer security from their own individual duels. Marcos Rojo has very good and indisputable conditions, but sometimes his vehemence exposes him to cards that he does not always receive. He plays on the edge, even when the action doesn’t require it: when he does it well, he stands out; When not, he may hit the showers too soon. And that instability does not help to generate a contagion of security in the rest, starting with Chiquito Romero, who raises his head several times and…
Cristian Lemaeven with flaws, is the most regular of all. Nicolas FigalIn addition to having a high percentage of bad decisions based on what each play requires (the last one, trying to cross with the left leg at Fortaleza’s 1-4 mark), he also tends to play more with his heart than with his reason. (he entered against River and was able to leave Boca with 10 due to an avoidable kick to Enzo Díaz). The best projection is Aaron Anselminobut he was injured against Trinidense after scoring the winning goal.
If the best of Boca is in its lateral game (as long as Advíncula and Lautaro Blanco start), the weakest is in the central axis: There is something between the defenders and the 5 that Diego Martínez still hasn’t finished resolving.