There is no going back. Despite Fernando Gago He repeated several times that he has strength to continue, in Boca They consider that their cycle in the club is finished. Penal defeat against Lima Alliance by penalties and early elimination in Copa Libertadoresalso leaving it without the consolation of the South American, it was not only a historical role but also an institutional sake that forces strong decisions. And the first is the output of the DT.
More than 24 hours passed from the defeat against Peruvians and Gago’s history seems judged, in the absence of official confirmation. The match against Rosario Centraladvanced to Friday because Boca was supposed to play the next phase of the Libertadores, it will be the farewell of the coach who will meet 23 games this Friday But it will be the Bombonera that puts in words the aroma that was born in Brandsen 805 and Sorbreguela on the Ezeiza property.
Gago’s end is clear to all but the coach himself, why will he direct against Rosario Central? The question is answered with another question: If you are not gago, who will unload your anger people?
The image of Gago’s goodbye in Racing was sad, with the entire cylinder insulting the former soccer player of the Argentine National Team that jumped from Argentina to Real Madrid. He had won two titles in the Academy, promoting many young people and conquering their detractors by force of installing a game identity. He lost an unusual league and later a classic that precipitated his dismissal. That same postcard can be repeated in the mouth, despite the fact that in comparison its stay seems brief: This immense was the failure of this day and further cup.
Racing enjoyed and suffered from Gago, and then received a Gustavo Costas that swept his winning aura. Who can be Boca’s coast? There are several names in the list of possible and impossible, such as that almost as a vacancy opens in one of the two hottest banks in Argentine football: Gabriel Heinze, Gerardo Martino, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Gabriel Milito, José Pekerman and Luis Zubeldía, all hierarchy technicians and uncertain news.
Juan Román Riquelme He did not speak publicly but between the president and his questioned football council, Gago’s thumb was lowered: in privacy there is talk of Mariano Herrón, who traveled to Santa Fe to lead the reservation against Unión, to go out as a firefighter once his departure is resolved.
The Bombonera will give its verdict against Central, leader of zone B and undefeated in the Opening Tournament. Riquelme will look at everything from his box, aware that the “that they all leave” that went down from the stands marked a previous and after cycle as a leader, which began in December 2019, which will turn two years without titles, but was never so indicated.
The dynamic in the mouth world is known: when a DT does not meet expectations begins wear. “Football is like that,” they explain as an argument. They suffered from it Miguel Angel Russo (59 games), Sebastián Battaglia (57), Hugo Ibarra (36), Jorge Almirón (43) and Diego Martínez (45). This time there will also be economic consequences: In addition to the effort that exceeded 25 million dollars in the passes market, lost the Libertadores will make it possible for possible benefits for 33 million dollars.
Fernando Gago on the day of his presentation with the president of Boca, Juan Román Riquelme. Photo: EFE/ MATIAS MARTIN CAMPAYAIn Boca they also believe that Gago not only failed with Alianza Lima. They question that in these months he could not print the game identity to his teams that caused the club to look kickers when he asked to be was Kevin Zenón ..
Nor could it be understood why Edinson Cavani, indicated by his wrong goal in the last second, chose kicking first, taking into account that the Uruguayan won the raffle.
“The players decide on the court,” is one of the phrases that Gago uses to explain these issues, such as when a penalty wrong by Racing gave Boca a tournament, in 2022. But the phrase that hurt the most at the conference after the defeat with Alianza Lima was another: “In football it is always generally lost”, a counterman of the Boquense gene.
The Bombonera already whistled to Gago in the previous party with Aldosivi, as a consequence of the defeat in the first leg against Alianza Lima, what will the reception against Central consummated the elimination of the Copa Libertadores?
Fernando Gago, with the hours told: Who could replace it in Boca?
The first option is always Mariano Herrón, the reserve coach who looks at the games from the box with Riquelme and took over the team every time some DT had to step aside. The model that worked in the Argentine National Team with Lionel Scaloni could never turn on the mouth: his internships never managed to consolidate in the form of a continuation.
Several names are mentioned, including the aforementioned Gabriel Heinze, Gerardo Martino, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Gabriel Milito, José Pekerman and Luis Zubeldía. It seems difficult for Heinze to accept that Román gets into the locker room, no matter how much they have shared the Argentine team’s shirt. The Tata was already looking for it but does not want to direct again until the middle of the year. Guillermo never got along with Riquelme in his player’s time and is very identified with Mauricio Macri. Pekerman is one of the teachers with which Román speaks the same language and age (75 years) would not be an impediment. Milito, who eliminated River from the Libertadores 2024 but then lost the final, seems more attentive to offers abroad. Zubeldía, for now, is the only one with work and is firm in San Pablo.
Unlike other opportunities, Román put together a squad that seduces, and competition will be only domestic, although the Club World Cup is an experience that can be attractive to any coach.