Battaglia-Riquelme, a broken relationship and an open wound that widened with the elimination of Boca from the Copa Libertadores

The wound had just opened and Sebastián Battaglia put his finger in the wound. “We had to be more aggressive on the market. Important players left us and we couldn’t replace them “the technician fired at dawn on Wednesday, while the last fans left the Bombonera amid murmurs. It was a direct message for Juan Román Riquelme, but it stimulated the sensitivities. To such an extent that the coach himself had to go out to clarify his statements a few hours later, before training held in Ezeiza’s property.

“I have the information that they are talking about how the campus took the statements I made on Tuesday and the truth is that at no time did I think about attacking the campus, far from it. If you look closely at the press conference, I said that I am proud of what I have seen on the pitch, I felt really represented by the players and what the team has done inside. After this is football and unfortunately we spent a night in which we were unable to score the goal and from then on we were out ”.explained the technician.

Until then, all that is publicly known. Now, What’s behind Battaglia’s words, those of the early hours of Wednesday, with the defeat still hot on penalties, and those of noon, when he got out of the car and confronted the group of journalists waiting at the entrance to the center high yield?

The reality is that the coach knows that Riquelme has not yet given up his services because he has not found a replacement. The relationship with the vice president idol is broken and it is a marriage of convenience. “He is tired of the fact that when Boca wins Riquelme wins and when he loses Boca he loses Battaglia”, She said Clarione next to the coach.

Since Riquelme took the players off the bus in October last year, the bond with his former teammate has started to crack. Battaglia has seen his authority undermined. The coach feels that he is involved in the assembly of the team, that the Football Council conditions him with his opinion and that he appreciates him less.

He asked for Eduardo Salvio’s continuity and the contract was not renewed, that’s why Totò chose Pumas from Mexico. Diego Valoyes and Facundo Farías asked and they didn’t arrive. For this he stressed the lack of reinforcements. The stick went to the leaders, but it splashed the players. And there were many who felt moved. Between them, Benedetto, Frank Fabra and Sebastian Villa.

That was why Battaglia turned to the press. In short, he knows that his luck on the bench depends on the players. Of course, if Benedetto misses two penalties, there is little to do. And what is your self-criticism? “I blame myself for not putting (Luis) Vázquez”said the technician. It was a change the party was asking for. Especially against a rival who took refuge near his goalkeeper and took advantage of the centers that came from the flanks. They were 43! total. The coach misinterpreted the game and kept four variations. Why didn’t you even bet on Aaron Molinas, a good pitcher?

Riquelme is angry with Battaglia. He did not like that he put substitutes against Banfield, which triggered a heavy defeat (3 to 0) at the Bombonera. Much less, that he only made one change during the match (Juan Ramírez for Exequiel Zeballos) and, of course, his statements.

“I will definitely reunite with Roman”Battaglia said. However, until this Wednesday there was no agreed meeting. is coming Saint LawrenceSaturday at the New Gasometer, a classic that takes another relief after the two chain defeats in the league (Unión and Banfield) and the elimination of the Copa Libertadores, the maximum goal, against Corinthians.