From moral champion to normal team: the harsh reality of a Racing that does not react

It has been installed since that penalty shoot-out against Boca, when players said goodbye to the cheers of the Professional League Cup. “Racing is the best team in Argentina“said – and he was proud of it – most of the fans, protected by the good performances that had pushed Fernando Gago to high regard for the environment. Approved by a sector of journalism, more akin to the forms than the coldness of the result. Since those February boos against Gimnasia en Cilindro, the Academy has marked an incredible series of successes that have combined great football moments and chain victories, to the point of surpassing a mark by Juan José Pizzuti.

There was a corridor of the boys of the inferiors for the footballers of the First Division, typical of the worthy defeats, a horror of the results that ended up becoming a boomerang. Because if you learn from mistakes – and from defeats – Racing enters a dangerous spiral of conformity. He tried to get out of the elimination unscathed against a heavy opponent who hadn’t kicked him in the goal, but “had more luck” from the twelve steps. “And we played better”, It was the consolation, as if the merits were added to some table.

The stumbles against River de Montevideo, when they had to draw at home to survive in South America, and against Agropecuario, rival of the First National team, for the Argentine Cup were two lethal blows. But they did not bring any consequences. And it’s not about changing coaches, a situation he deserves after big flop because none of the three goals for the semester were met. It’s about being convinced to make the leap.

And the management will have to take charge of this situation. Although Víctor Blanco has proved to be a great administrator over the past decade, the president must understand that the hierarchy is paid. Without players of above-average level, it will be difficult to aspire to great goals and step, once and for all, into the ring of River and Boca. Racing was ready to fight with the greats, while Independiente and San Lorenzo kissed the canvas of the institutional crisis. Today he staggers, full of pineapples, in the same corner of reds and azulgrana, for less debt that the club has in the treasury of Miter Avenue. After all, the economic league does not add a star.

The composition of the bank is evidence of negligence in the campus assembly: six defenders, three midfielders and a single striker, the little boy Román Fernández, 17, who made his debut when the team was walking among the coals in Mendoza. Nery Domínguez, a point of reference, is already packing his bags for Chile because the negotiations for the renewal of his contract have been delayed. And you couldn’t compete with dollars. Was it necessary to spend 3,500,000 in Cardona? And if there was the Colombian, why did Emiliano Vecchio arrive, with similar characteristics?

Did racing play so well? When he ceased to be effective and began to expose his problems in retrospect, he embodied in a normal team. The technician has the responsibility, of course. Why did Enzo Copetti play on the right against Boca when he was having a great moment as a center forward? Why didn’t he correct his mistake in the second half? Why was Cardona the only change in taking the penalties? Why didn’t he punch the ball against the Uruguayan river if the tie was enough? Why did you insist against Agropecuario and Godoy Cruz by advancing your last line almost in the middle of the field and giving open field to those balls that hurt you so much? Why do you insist on Cardona, who is far from the best physical condition of him? Why does Facundo Mura always go out?

There are many questions about Gago, the coach who did not deserve to lead Racing because he came on the field with 16 defeats since Aldosivi, the same one who found his way and put together a good team during the League Cup and those who do not seem to have a pulse to change the course of the games.

Then, of course, there are the players. irresponsible like Tomás Chancalay, who got expelled before Godoy Cruz. Or Javier Correa, who returned to Mexico after wasting an incredible number of situations against the networks of River de Montevideo and Agropecuario. Gastón Gómez no longer provides the security of his early days. There is an individual collapse that, at least this Sunday, it was not possible to recover with an orderly collective performance. Racing has never been superior to the Mendocino.

From being the moral champion, the Academy has come face to face with harsh reality. It is no longer even possible to “celebrate” a good performance. The managers, Gago and the players must react. Or the future will be dark, almost like this present.