Three friendlies, three wins and just one goal against. From a numerical point of view, the preseason of Boca has little to object to, but nuances of rivals on the sidelines, the team’s main change is behind closed doors. The landing of Diego Martínez modified habits, changed attitudes and allowed a clear message which is valued by the players themselves, who demonstrated it on the playing field. Now we will have to wait for the performance to transfer to the Professional League Cupwhere he will debut against Platense as a visitor, and for whom the DT predicts “a very high ceiling”.
The 1-0 on Gymnastics and Shooting in Saltathe victory against Caseros students in Boca Predio and the 2-1 also as a visitor in Córdoba last Saturday against Workshops left hints of what the commander of the new Xeneize cycle intends, which will have, in addition to the local tournament, the Argentine Cup and the South American Cup as main objectives.
“Because it is such a short preseason, the feelings are positive, the team has a very high ceiling”said the coach, who put on the Boca jersey on January 2, after resolving his traumatic departure from Huracán for several weeks.
“We face the most intense team in the country, with young players, on good footing and who have an extensive line of work.either. At times with the hierarchy we were able to impose ourselves, I really liked passages in the first half, but there was a period when Talleres dominated us and tied,” he analyzed about the match against Talleres, where they won due to goals from Luca Langoni and Nicolás Figal.
Regarding the forward who emerged from the Inferiores, who hopes to recover after a series of injuries last year, Martínez considered that “He has a direct ambition to go for the goal” and he remembered his formative stage when he was part of the Xeneize coaching staff.
“I have known Luca since he was very young, he is competitive, divine. With a huge heart and desire to make his career. We like him a lot. When we met him he played more on the wing but at this moment, with the freedom to look for those attacking runs, he understands very well when teammates come down to attack behind him,” he evaluated.
The Boca coach later referred to the return of the Uruguayan Edinson Cavaniwho added his first minutes of the year from the substitute bench, after beginning preparation with special care due to the tear suffered at the end of 2023.
“I saw him with a desire to play and a lot of predisposition, the work and the games will bring him closer to his best physical shape”confided the coach, who has Miguel Merentiel as his ‘fix’ in the attack, so he will have to decide who will be his partner.
A week after the debut in Vicente López, Martínez assumed that Boca still has to “grow” in his game: “We have to feel that we are a team that we can dominate with and without the ball”.
“We are not tied to any system. Ezequiel (Bullaude) started playing on the right at one point. The important thing is to understand the moments and the functions. We do want to have superiority in the axis”he clarified.
Martínez did not leave the market, taking into account that he suffered the important departure of Valentín Barco to Brighton in England and furthermore the landing of left-handed Kevin Zenón from Unión de Santa Fe.
“We will evaluate it with the people at the club to see if there is anywhere else for someone to arrive.”warning.
Benedetto no se baja
But there is a fundamental point of this new Boca. And that is presumed in every training session, in every video that has been seen of the practices that he and his coaching staff prepare, but also in the games. This is what the forward recognized Dario Benedettoone of the team’s leaders, after the victory in Córdoba.
“It’s good to finish the preseason with a win. We did a good preparation and now we’re waiting for the start of the championship. We see a coaching staff with a lot of sacrifice, a desire to work and improve day by day. We are grasping the idea quickly, it is very clear in what he wants”highlighted Pipa.
Even though he did not have much participation in the preseason friendlies – he scored the winning goal against Estudiantes – Benedetto left no doubts regarding his position: “We are all here to add. One wants to play, but from wherever I am, we have to be positive for the group. For my part, I am at the disposal of the coaching staff, whether I am a starter, substitute or supporting from the outside, always being positive. I did “A great preseason and I hope I can have more minutes.”.
And he also came to the crossroads of versions about a possible departure from the club in the short term: “The day I have to leave I have enough personality, I don’t need anyone to come out and speak for me, I’m going to say it. There is nothing, it’s reality. The day there is something and I make that decision, they will know.” “by me and not by the press”.