To think that a little more than two decades ago the word was forbidden. Thus was born the “step by step” ritual that Mostaza Merlo installed in 2001, when Racing had been without titles for 35 years. Until one day, the DT platinum got tired: “Now I’m angry, we will become champions”, launched, disconnected with his unmistakable thundering voice, after a match against Banfield on the Huracán pitch where Chanchi Estevez canceled two legitimate goals. After the meeting, the journalist Tití Fernández had pierced him: “Are you afraid, Mustard?”. And Merlo exploded, expelled the forbidden word and that night in First Football he saw and heard the exclusive title.
Times have changed. In 2014 Diego Cocca, after a press conference, assured him that he preferred to lose the classic and become champion. And so it was: he fell 2-1 at the Rojo field but stole eight points in six dates at the River and on December 14 he overturned at the Cilindro after beating Godoy Cruz with a goal from Ricardo Centurión. That phrase of the coach in the preview of the match with the neighbors inspired the headline of the newspaper Olé: “I prefer to be champion“.
Far from the mustard cabal, in this championship, despite the irregularity shown by the team, no one seems to be afraid to say the word champion anymore. “You have to be champion, this is the year …”, is heard singing in President Perón. A few weeks ago, DT Fernando Gago challenged a partisan journalist in a conference: “You want me to tell you. We will become champions.” “We will be champions”, repeats the Coach with an angry face.
Later it was Emiliano Vecchio who uttered the magic words: “Yes, I want to be champion with this shirt. We are looking for the biggest prize”, launched the Tycoon after the Academy’s triumph against Rosario Central.
And this holiday Monday, the one who dared to utter the once forbidden phrase was Enzo Copetti. “We have three more games left to fight, stay up there and wait for what happens with the other teams. Let’s leave the peaceful people alone, we will fight until the end”, began the scorer who was the figure of the game. As in 2001, the journalist Tomás Dávila asked him if they would become champions: “Yes, we will become champions”.
Despite Boca being the last champion and leading the current league, the Academy is the team with the most points in the year, they just have to crown.
Source: Clarin
