All the questions that arose after the new elimination: at what point did Racing stop being Racing?

The new blow he has suffered Racingthis time against Agropecuario Argentino de Carlos Casares for the round of 16 Argentine Cuphas reopened the debate. what is playing well, this is the question that is circulating in these hours among academic enthusiasts. Is it enough with a handful of brilliant matches to make sure you are in the presence of a great team? Or does that performance necessarily have to be crowned with something? Can a stellar team yield to smaller rivals, such as River de Montevideo and Agropecuario? There is also a question that questions communicators: it was the etiquette of a great team rushed to those who led it Fernando Gago?

The questions could be endless and the answers varied. But the reality is in what happened and Racing in less than a month was left with almost nothing in their hands. He went through 77 days of pure illusion and the dream collapsed in 25, with unexpected slaps. And everyone remained in the eye of the storm: players, coaching staff and managers.

The starting point of cute ride could be established in the duel against River in Monumental on February 27. The story is known: Gago and the players had left whistling after the draw against Gimnasia at the debut of the League Cup. Hence, the Academy matched Defense and Justice and beat Argentinos at Avellaneda. Núñez’s away match was a turning point and the 0-2 with which the first half ended gave the feeling of a mired cycle, beyond the fact that the team had played well. But Racing showed an ambitious version in the complement and reached the deserved draw. From that point on, it hasn’t stopped growing.

The 15 games that followed were exultant. The race only lost to Melgar in Peru South America Cup, a fall that would then have paid off at a high price. But the team always made progress. The peak of the performance was in the 5-0 against Aldosivi, in the quarter-finals of the League Cup. That peak was also the beginning of the recession: in the next case, was eliminated by Boca on penalties.

The blow against Boca was hard for the illusion that was there and for the way the team played, especially in the first half. At the court of Lanús, the fans fired the players with applause. The youth teams of the Lower League also welcomed the players when they returned to train at the Tita headquarters.

but ever since Racing has ceased to be racing and came the surprise eliminations in Copa Sudamericana and Copa Argentina. And, of course, the fans showed their discomfort on social media. We insist: no one escapes criticism.

Coach Fernando Gago is questioned about his decisions and his reading of the matches. Even some point out that he underestimated the duels against the River Plate of Montevideo and Agropecuario. In Jujuy, for example, it was not understood the fact that Enzo Copetti did not play (Javier Correa played, who will leave at the end of the month) and the fact that Edwin Cardona, the player of the franchise to whom the coach asked so much. . “Leaving Copetti out was my decision: I wanted Javier to play”explained the DT. And he clarified: We prefer that Cardona do a physical job, which he needs. For a matter of accusations I would not have been able to play against the Agropecuario, so I chose not to talk about it “.

Players are questioned about the lack of hierarchy, especially forwards and defenders. A number is used to contextualize: in the matches against Boca, River Plate and Agropecuario, Racing shot 66 kicks on goal and scored only one goal. Javier Correa and Tomás Chancalay are the ones who have lost the most chances. Meanwhile, the defense showed the worst version of him since Leonardo Sigali’s injury.

The last stage is that of the leaders and the anger is due to the lack of level reinforcements. It is true that several million dollars have been spent for Cardona, but a level striker and central midfielder have not arrived. And much more: the cast of Avellaneda is close to incorporation Giovanni CarboneroGimnasia’s attacker who will soon be tried for a case of harassment and attempted sexual abuse.