The furious month of Boca: from the rigor to the space of Benedetto to the perfect endless storm on the horizon

a furious month. From that penalty by Darío Benedetto to the second tray of the Bombonera to enter the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores to weeks of departures from the DT, the captain, slow motion defeats, injuries, media crosses and substitutions. It all happened in 30 days. Since that night of elimination against Corinthiansin the Professional League Cup the champion broke out a calm storm.

The departure of Sebastian Battaglia. In an even series but in which Boca were superior, the elimination of the Libertadores generated frustration at not having achieved a goal. It is that Corinthians never seemed a strong rival and in the second leg some decisions of the DT left him uncovered. But the trigger for his early departure (his bond ended at the end of the year) were his statements at the next conference.

It is that the technician preferred complaining about the lack of incorporations instead of arguing for sports performance. He seemed to want to wage an apology “war” against the Football Council. In 24 hours he was fired, in a relationship that seemed distant and that ended up imploding without the top goal of the year to come.

The captain, out. The hours following the elimination highlighted a conflict that had arisen in the previous one, when the squad threatened not to concentrate for the request for the economic prize (something that Conmebol had not yet paid to the club) and which led to a cross between Carlos Izquierdoz – as captain and leader of that claim – with the directors.

Benedict confessed everything, to which a camera in the tunnel area filmed him as he delivered an “harangue” in which he claimed to have been treated as “losers” in the meeting with the Football Council. To this was added that the defender had already made it clear that he remained at Boca only for his continuity in Libertadores, but that he would leave the institute at the end of the year. Everything accelerated and his abrupt departure from the team in the next match (against San Lorenzo, in Bajo Flores) blew up his game against Sporting Gijón from Spain.

The other referents were injured. Without Izquierdoz, dressing room management was left to Marcos Rojo and Darío Benedetto, with Pol Fernández emerging as the surname in charge of the youngest on campus. The center scorer, in his goal against San Lorenzo, hugged Cali as a sign of his position. And after that, his level was even higher: goals in three games and a performance that reconfirmed his condition. For the scorer, however, it was all a climb. He not only missed a penalty again (against Talleres) but he also suffered a severe left ankle sprain that took him off the pitch. Thus, for a month, his head seemed stuck in that pain up to the clouds.

Defeats that have exposed. Despite being a transition with the Copa Libertadores 2023 ticket secured, Boca’s goal is to fight to the end of both the League Cup and the Argentine Cup. And that’s why the away defeats against San Lorenzo, Argentinos Juniors and Patronato hit hard. Not only for the result, but also for the lack of attitude of the team it was put under the magnifying glass in the falls in which they were overcome without question. The tournament was far away, with no margin for error, but now in the Copa Argentina heads-up there is a greater risk: any crash played in that way will generate criticism. Individual levels also dropped: Villa, Advíncula, Fabra and Luis Vázquez were some of those who played below their means.

new faces. In addition to the designation of Hugo Ibarra as coach (with Roberto Pompei and Leandro Gracián as field assistants) this month Martín Payero and Facundo Roncaglia, two players who already had minutes to play, joined the club. Furthermore, the club has released Gastón Ávila and is still looking for reinforcements before the transfer book closes. Y the captain’s ribbon went from Izquierdoz to Rojo, then to Fabra and could fall to Pol Fernández, perhaps the leader for 2023. A renewal in full competition, with a large market. Very similar to 2016, when Barros Schelotto, after being out with Independiente del Valle, gave up on captains Orion and Tasting Diaz.

Renewal with Rossi. One of the few who performed in the series against Corinthians and who sanctioned his huge gift was the goalkeeper, to the point that it was the only name marked by the Bombonera. However, in the midst of the delusion at the elimination, his representative put the renewal of his contract on the agenda. And in a media game that has exposed the player, his agent has given centrality to the economic question. Boca offered $ 11 million to keep the player, but the counteroffer was exorbitant. And among the voices of Jorge Ameal –“We will not break the club to renew it” – and that of the entrepreneur who directs Rossi –“We want them to pay us the pass as well as the contract”– all poured into a break in the negotiation, with Rossi at the center of the scene.

A penalty in the stands. A broken cup dream. A perfect storm. All in one month.