Negro Ibarra was optimistic, he talked about “raising his chest” and that he is “looking for a way” to his Boca

Neither the two defeats in three performances under his command nor the constant background noises he and his players have become accustomed to living with nor the requests for the immediate signing of a new manager seem to discourage Hugo Ibarrawho was optimistic about his team’s performance and preferred not to get involved in discussions about the length of his job leading Boca’s top team.

“The team is doing well, we are looking for the form. The previous situation was difficult for the squad, but we must continue to work in the same way and with a clear goal: try to win everything that awaits you and compete at the highest level. All that remains is to win and compete at the highest levels ”.explained the man from Formosa at the press conference he held after training this Friday.

Just 10 days have passed since president Jorge Amor Ameal, with the approval of the Football Council led by Juan Román Riquelme, confirmed that the former right-back would lead the squad until the end of the year. However, questions about that decision have multiplied. after the defeat on Tuesday against Argentinos Juniors in La Paternal.

“This is football and these things happen. You have to live with the moment when you put on the technical director’s coat. It doesn’t bother me and I do what’s best for the club. They needed me right now and I’m here to lift my chest and push me forward“, Said Ibarra, who, if he remains in office, will have a busy schedule over the next three months, in which Boca will play the Professional League (it is seven units from the top) and the Argentine Cup (it will be measured against the Agropecuario de Carlos Casares in the round of 16).

Although the interim coach was not the main focus of the questions in these hours, the eye was on the weak performance of the team he organized against Argentinos. In this regard, Ibarra acknowledged that Boca had not shown a good versioneven if he claimed that the absences of some players due to physical problems had been decisive.

“We had a team in mind, but as we didn’t have the same names we had against Talleres, the pattern has changed. We try to be offensive and to find the game on the sides, with Exequiel (Zeballos) and Sebastián (Villa) outside. It didn’t happen and we suffered a defeat that hurt us a lot. It’s difficult to form the team when we don’t have the players in the best physical shape, “he said.

Thinking about Sunday’s duel against Estudiantes in La Bombonera, the coach tried this Friday with a formation that included three changes compared to the one used on Tuesday in La Paternal: Alan Varela for Exequiel Zeballos, Juan Ramírez for Jorman Campuzano and Oscar Romero for Nicolás Orsini. He also attempted a change of scheme: he went from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 with Romero and Villa as outsiders.

Regarding that test with the Paraguayan lying on the right wing, Ibarra explained: “We want to find the place where he feels most comfortable and where he gives his best to the team.” And regarding Zeballos’ farewell, he cautioned: “He’s a great player, like everyone else we have, and he’ll be used at the right moment for the team.”

Darío Benedetto, who on Thursday suffered a sprained right ankle that prevented him from completing football training, did not participate in the work. “We will wait for him,” said the coach, who stressed that he will probably confirm his line-up to play for Estudiantes on Saturday.