Cardona’s mystery in Racing de Gago: where does the Colombian fit in, whistled by fans?

Edwin Cardona’s release, twenty minutes into the second half, was accompanied by a concert of whistles. The race was lost 1-0 and the Colombian left the field of play with an unabashed gesture of annoyance and in the same way he played at the time he was on the field: walking. His successor, Tomás Chancalay, hugged him tightly. Probably looking for some containment for the denied partner.

Soon after the draw of Academy, a team more like the one from Fernando Gago’s turbulent start than the 2022 version that has won ten consecutive games, mostly with high-flying football. That yes, beyond Nery Domínguez’s header and Germán Delfino’s pathetic arbitration, which in any case was right to expel Chancalay for disrespect, all eyes are on Cardona. And there are some questions being asked about the hurdle that Boca doesn’t want to buy the pass. Does it fit into this Race? Why can’t you get into a rhythm? Is there a physical problem?

The Colombian decided to use social networks to respond to the widespread booing.

“The best warrior is not the victor, but the fearless one who returns to battle.”He posted the flyer on his Instagram account. The caption is accompanied by a photo of Brad Pitt in the film Fury, in which the actor plays a soldier. This is not the only sentence Cardona sent.

“A true warrior studies every defeat, to make it a victory next time … Because the best warrior is not the one who always wins, but the one who fearlessly returns to battle”says another post, this time illustrated with a Spartan.

What do the statistics of the match against Banfield show? Cardona played 66 minutes and touched the ball 34 times. He once kicked the goal, a free kick that Facundo Cambeses covered with effort. Eventually, he didn’t complete a center and had a nice long ball. A key pass, to Eugenio Mena, which ended in nothing. He had 8 defeats.

Now, if the gaze is focused on the heat map, it must be said that he has never set foot in the place visited even once. And that he left a counter serve, like 10 days ago he gave the ball to Axel Rodríguez, who scored the second goal for the Patronato. Racing won 3-2, but the result was compromised.

If the analysis is more global, in 10 games with a light blue and white shirt he has an average of 47 minutes played, but one fact is no small: he made more passes on his own field (85%) than opposite field. (75%).

“He is a last pass player, positional. The players have different characteristics and I choose the team to improve the collective performance ”, said Gago at the press conference.

The technician is very strict on the issue of weight. So far it hasn’t happened that Cardona isn’t offline. His pass is worth 3 million dollars and Gago is looking for that piece he considers “different” to fit. The fact is, after the injury sustained against the Argentinos, the team began to play with the speed and dynamics that propelled the local championship, the Argentine Cup and the South American Cup.

“The comments on the outside were hurtful, from people who played football. I had to be injured. We are a team, I am grateful to all the people who supported me, and to those who did not support, ask them for blessings. Thankful to those who brought me here ”, he recovered.

The fact is that Racing is another Colombian. As his teammates are the usual starters or most replacements, as happened on Saturday. The hurdle has a rhythmic rhythm. He loves to pause, on a pass that can unlock a defensive lock and have a good punch. However, in collective operation it is becoming a counterweight. And that trait that is needed in these times, intensity and speed, is not in his DNA, much less in recovery.

Racing and Cardona are not compatible. People don’t agree with this. Will this story change?