The background of the departure of Sebastián Battaglia from Boca: a phone call at dawn between Ameal and Riquelme that marked the fate of DT

It was early in the morning, the game was over for some time and malaise dominated the Bombonera. In the presidential office Jorge Love Ameal I listened to the press conference in amazement. He was with two leaders. “But what does this man say?”he wondered while Sebastiano Battaglia complained about the lack of “aggression” in the transfer market and in the transfer of invoices to players. There was a phone call with Juan Roman riquelme and in that precise moment, the fate of the technical director was sealed.

At night, while the first half of Velez Riverthe official communication it didn’t seem random. That moment was chosen to publicly announce the end of the Battle cycle, which arrived a year ago at the same juncture that opens the exit door for him today: the dismissal of Miguel Ángel Russo.

Some time earlier, when the rain was getting heavier in the North Zone, there was a meeting that lasted ten minutes between Battaglia and Marcelo Delgado, member of the Football Council. Yup, Roman hasn’t even called his former partner to inform him of his dismissal. “He didn’t want to show his face. She sent him to the cello. They didn’t explain anything to him, only that he was no longer the coach. “entrusted to Clarione a dear friend who, as a player, was the most successful player in the history of gold and blue.

Saturday, against the San Lorenzo al Nuovo Gasometro, Hugo Ibarra will be the interim manageraccompanied by Mariano Herron, Riquelme’s man on the technical staff. With Russo, even with Battaglia, he will be second Black. Will it be with the next idol vice president who chooses to sit on the hottest bench?

“Now there is no rush, we have time to think. Total, we play the Argentine Cup in 20 days “, a person walking on the property of the Boca di Ezeiza slipped. Without a confirmed date, he will face Agropecuario de Carlos Casares, of the First National team who has just eliminated Racing. Will there be a replacement for Battaglia by that date?

There are several names around: Gabriele Heinzewho directed Riquelme in Argentinos and was his teammate in the national team; Ricardo Gareca, who even brought the dog from Lima and would stop running Peru; Y Sebastian Woodcockwho already knows that he will go away Defense and Justice in October. Or will Ibarra continue until the end of the season? It is a possibilitytaking into account that the Council believes it has a sufficiently rich squad to face the rest of the season which will be cut off in November by the World Cup in Qatar.

The elimination against Corinthians and the post-match statements filled Riquelme’s patience. “I shouldn’t have said anything. If you lose, you have to go out and collect everyone. A spark is a fire in Boca “yelled a manager.

But Battaglia was on the warpath. That’s why she put her finger on it. It was a direct message to Riquelme that caused susceptibility. To such an extent that the coach himself had to go out to clarify his statements at noon, before training in Ezeiza, the same place where he will go today to greet the players.

“I have the information that they are talking about how the campus took my statements and at no time did I think about attacking them. If you see the press conference correctly, I said that I am proud of what I saw on the pitch, I felt really represented by the players ”.the coach said. More words, fewer words, it was the same thing he said to them behind closed doors.

The relationship with the vice president broke up and it was a marriage of convenience. Ever since Riquelme got the players off the bus in October, the bond between them has started to break. Battaglia saw his authority undermined. Near you they say that you asked for the continuity of Edoardo Salvio – today in Pumas – and for the arrival of Diego Valey Y Facundo Fariasthat has not arrived. For this he stressed the lack of reinforcements. The stick went to the leaders, but it splashed the players. Many felt moved. What about your self-criticism? “I blame myself for not putting (Luis) Vázquez”Battaglia said. Afternoon. The party shouted it.

Riquelme was already crossed with Battaglia. They did not like that he bet on substitutes against Banfield, which resulted in a heavy (3-0) defeat at the Bombonera. Much less, that he didn’t make more than one change during the match (Juan Ramírez of Exequiel Zeballos). And, of course, for his statements. “We have a barbaric campus,” they boast in the Council.

The truth is that Norberto Briasco, Esteban Rolón, Nicolás Orsini and Juan Ramírez did not relent And they were all incorporations to be requested from Riquelme, who will try to turn the page after kicking out a technical director who has left twice sample in six months. In Boca, it is clear, it is not enough. Battaglia couldn’t win the Libertadores, that Cup so desired and so toxic at the same time.