Latorre, Navarro Montoya, Insua and Bertoni, on the crack that opened Riquelme: how to play in Argentine football?

He touched an intimate fiber of the environment with a sentence that revived a vintage discussion. And she sparked controversy, of course. Juan Román Riquelme parted ways when he shot a week ago, during an interview: “No one plays well in Argentine football.” The idol vice president, perhaps one of the best footballers among us, tried with his speech to take on the pressure that was on Boca’s uneven level. And he relativized the criticisms due to the number of dates played, then three and before the victory against Platense.

It is clear that the request, mainly from the fans, has come since last year. However, almost without meaning to?, Román raised a debate that developed gradually. At the tables, on social media and among the protagonists themselves, first and foremost the coaches. After all, they are the ones who shape their teams. In the conquest of the three points every method is valid. Now, it’s one thing to play “beautifully,” as Riquelme said, and quite another to play “well,” as Gabriel Milito picked up the glove.

clarion He has consulted several football figures. And maybe I defined it better than anyone else Diego Latorreformer player of Boca, Racing and the National team, among others, who is now a commentator for ESPN.

“Beauty is considered an ornament, something expendable and is nobody’s goal. Beauty is born when a team expresses itself or plays at a high level. That’s why they like it. It is not part of tactics or strategy. The one to start. Otherwise, the good comes before the beautiful and it’s not like that. Beauty will be the reflection of what is very well done,” she points out. And he underlines: “I think there are teams that play very well in Argentina. Racing is one of them. Even the Argentines. It is there that the intervention of the coach is seen. There are even teams that with less material generate associations, a level of play perhaps higher than what the players promise a priori. Argentine football is so uniform that sometimes intentions collide with reality and the need for results.”

Robert Saporitiright arm of César Menotti in the 1978 world champion team and coach with a long history, he wonders: “I don’t want to hurt feelings and talk about Argentine football. The story is very long and spans the country. What football can you compare it to? With England, where Manchester City and Chelsea spend $600m to sign players? And he delivers a concept: “Playing well is having all the possible attack variants with ball possession and when you don’t have it, defending with the eleven, with the first striker, who must work hard to recover the ball. In the corners, know how to defend and know how to attack. Always with eleven, including the goalkeeper if necessary. The best team I saw was Guardiola’s Barcelona, ​​who had great players who gave them brilliance. The eleven defended and attacked..

For Carlos Navarro Montoya, “there are teams that play well”. And he lists: “Argentinos Juniors and Racing, for example. Defensa y Justicia, beyond the changes of players and coaches, has a central idea that has survived over time. Saw passages from Heinze’s Newell’s and liked it. River with this new leadership has moments.” He Sandwichhero of Boca, speaks of an evolution: “Late, but following in the wake of the change that the world has experienced, Argentine football has given importance to the ways in which teams, through the techniques of their players, generate a game that everybody likes it”.

Alejandro Dominguez I think it’s a seasonal issue. “Many times, the shutdown means that teams don’t get off to the best possible start,” says the Chori, former River figure. And he adds: “There are some teams that try to play well. In this sense, I’m more on Milito’s side than on Riquelme’s. And there are also other clubs that haven’t found a way. They get results, that in the end what matters is that, but you can’t all put them in the same bag”.

Alexander Mancuso give credit to the leader xeneize: “In this I give the right to Riquelme. Indeed, you are right. You don’t play football well, you need to achieve results, win so that everything is calm. Look at Boca: they played more or less the way they should play for a while, they won the game and had no problems. I think the results dominate. If you win everything is calm and if you don’t you immediately go into crisis. If not, look at Independent. And the tournament is mediocre”. For the former “5” of Boca, Vélez and the national team “It’s one thing to play well and another to play well. Argentinos sometimes play well, it’s not even overwhelming, huh. They’re all warming up their engines.”

Daniel BertoniAlso critic, glory of the Reds and world champion with the national team. “The big players play abroad and Argentine football is not of a high standard. We play in mediocrity, eliminating Lanús and Argentinos, who play very well, there is little to save. River is getting back together, Independiente, Racing and Estudiantes can’t find their way. In this sense, I agree with Riquelme; He goes to his Boca every Sunday and doesn’t play well. The fans out there are looking for results, but this goes hand in hand with doing things well, having a compact and balanced team.”

Ruben Dario InsuaEven , coach of San Lorenzo, has a similar look to Román: “It’s hard not to agree with Riquelme. It’s difficult to watch Argentine football and see two or three good games. But it’s logical, it’s only the beginning”. Diego Dabove, coach of Huracán, said: “Tigre and Argentinos play very well. Defense too. Play good or nice? It has to do with tastes”.

And if it comes to tastes, nothing is written. Less in football.