Snak

Troglio: "Vamos por el buen camino"

LA PLATA -- El entrenador Pedro Troglio afirmó hoy que Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata avanza "por el buen camino" en el Torneo Inicial, luego de la muy valiosa y trabajada victoria sobre Vélez.

"Encontrarse perdiendo frente a Vélez a los cinco minutos es complicado, pero los jugadores interpretaron bien lo que había que hacer cuando quedamos con un hombre más que el rival y pudimos dar vuelta el resultado", destacó.

Troglio consideró que "el primer tiempo fue extraño, porque Vélez llegó una vez sola y convirtió", pero sostuvo que incluso antes de la expulsión de Sebastián Domínguez se trataba de "un partido parejo".

"En el complemento neutralizamos los ataques del contrario; gravitó Ignacio Fernández como enganche, abrimos mejor la cancha y encontramos la diferencia que necesitábamos", analizó en conferencia de prensa.

El "Lobo" platense acumuló en lo que va de la competencia cinco partidos ganados, dos empatados y tres perdidos, y se prepara para visitar a Tigre en la próxima fecha. "Es cierto que cada partido es una historia distinta, pero vamos por el buen camino. Estoy muy contento", concluyó.

Derfor skal man holde sin kæft om dommerens præstationer....

Laverni inició acciones contra Caruso

BUENOS AIRES -- El árbitro Saúl Laverni inició acciones legales contra el entrenador de Argentinos Juniors, Ricardo Caruso Lombardi, al argumentar que "traspuso la línea del respeto" porque sembró "dudas" sobre su honorabilidad, luego del partido entre el equipo de La Paternal y Belgrano de Córdoba.

Es que Caruso Lombardi deslizó en conferencia de prensa que Laverni tenía campos, animales y maquinarias, y sembró dudas en relación a cómo hizo para comprarlas.

Por su parte, el técnico del "Bicho", expulsado por Laverni en la derrota por 3-1 ante el "Pirata" el pasado viernes, respondió que no le importa la presentación del árbitro porque aparte de la carta documento debe acusarlo de algo que él, entiende, no hizo ni dijo.

Según Laverni, Caruso "traspuso la línea del respeto" luego de ese encuentro y "atacó la ética al dejar dudas sobre un montón de cuestiones que se extralimitan de la AFA y se dirimen en otros lados".

Sin embargo, Caruso remarcó hoy que cuando habló de "campos, cosechadoras y vacas" no hablaba de Laverni sino de él mismo: "Yo dije que no tengo campos, no tengo cosechadoras, no tengo vacas. Y el enseguida salió a decir ´yo soy profesor de matemáticas´".

"¿Para qué salta?", se preguntó Caruso Lombardi en diálogo con Rock and Pop, momentos después que Laverni diera a conocer que presentó una demanda contra el técnico "puntualmente por lo que dijo de los campos y las cosechadoras".

"Un penal no sancionado (sobre Rodrigo Gómez, que terminó expulsado igual que Caruso) trajo un escándalo que termina en la justicia, fuera de los escritorios de AFA, donde se tendrían que dirimir estas cuestiones porque hay un Colegio de árbitros que sanciona", indicó el árbitro.

En esa dirección, Laverni sostuvo que "como no existe más las calumnias e injurias", Caruso deberá afrontar "una mediación en la que tendrá que comprobar lo que dijo y si no va a juicio".

"Deberá probar de dónde lo saqué si lo tengo, cómo cree que lo obtuve y un montón de cuestiones que deberá probar en el juzgado que corresponda", explicó.

Al entrenador del conjunto de La Paternal pareció no importarle demasiado la presentación de Laverni, a quien tildó de "soberbio" y "sin educación".

"Para él los jugadores no sirven para nada, los periodistas son amarillistas, los jugadores de Jujuy son bolivianos, tiene quilombos siempre. El se hace el santo y se escuda en Marconi que mande cartas documento para defenderlo", retrucó.

Nacho González asumirá interinamente

BUENOS AIRES -- Tras casi cinco horas de reunión entre dirigentes y referentes del plantel, se resolvió que Ignacio González tome el cargo de entrenador de manera interina, mientras continúa la búsqueda del reemplazante de Carlos Ischia.

De esta forma, la práctica del martes será dirigida por el ex arquero del club, que estará acompañado por Manuel Fernández (ayudante de campo), Pablo Mansilla (preparador físico) y Claudio Medina (entrenador de arqueros).

Nacho González, quien jugó en Racing entre 1991 y 1997 y fue entrenador de arqueros del cuerpo técnico de Alfio Basile, dirigiría el próximo domingo ante Estudiantes de La Plata y no se descarta que, de conseguir un resultado positivo, continúe en el cargo.

Mientras tanto, el abanico de nombres que maneja la dirigencia tiene nombres de la talla de Reinaldo Carlos Merlo, Ricardo Caruso Lombardi, Osvaldo Ardiles y Gustavo Costas. Aunque también se analizan otros como Roberto Sensini, Marcelo Gallardo, Rodolfo Arruabarrena y Juan Ramón Carrasco. Quien está prácticamente descartado es Antonio Mohamed.

Racing jugará el próximo domingo, en La Plata, ante Estudiantes en búsqueda de su primer victoria en el Torneo Inicial. En diez partidos disputados, apenas sumó dos puntos, producto de los empates ante Colón y Lanús.

Forestello renunció como DT de Colón

BUENOS AIRES -- El entrenador Ruben Forestello confirmó su alejamiento de la dirección técnica de Colón de Santa Fe, tras la derrota por 1-0 ante Arsenal, en el partido correspondiente a la décima fecha del Torneo Inicial.

"Es necesario que llegue alguien nuevo para renovar las expectativas y las esperanzas. Hicimos todo lo que estuvo a nuestro alcance pero evidentemente no alcanzó y por eso nos vamos con un profundo dolor", manifestó Forestello luego del traspié ante Arsenal.

Forestello llegó a Colón a principios de julio, para dirigir al conjunto santafecino en el Torneo Inicial. En su ciclo de diez partidos, ganó tres, empató uno y perdió los seis restantes, encadenando cinco caídas en las últimas cinco presentaciones.

Por el momento, Mario Sciacqua, coordinador del fútbol amateur, quedará a cargo del primer equipo, en la preparación de cara al partido del próximo sábado ante All Boys. Mientras tanto, para el martes, está prevista una reunión dirigencial para analizar nombres y poder comenzar la búsqueda del reemplazante de Forestello.

Palermo y el triunfo ante All Boys

MENDOZA -- El entrenador de Godoy Cruz, Martín Palermo, consideró este lunes que el triunfo por 2-0 ante All Boys fue "muy importante" porque el equipo de Floresta es "un rival directo" en la lucha por la permanencia.

"Es un triunfo importante ante un rival directo. Estoy contento por el esfuerzo de los jugadores porque los recambios anduvieron y, aunque no tenemos la tranquilidad ni el aire de puntos, empezamos a mostrarnos más sólidos, concentrados y solidarios", remarcó el técnico del elenco mendocino en conferencia de prensa.

A su vez, realizó un análisis del partido: "El primer tiempo nos estudiamos mucho. Es un rival con un planteo muy similar al nuestro y por eso fue un primer tiempo feo".

"En el segundo cambió todo con el gol, tuvimos más espacio, más juego y más situaciones, y aplicamos lo que queremos, que es tener la pelota y jugar", finalizó Palermo.

En Boca, se desgarró Gago

BUENOS AIRES -- Durante la tarde del lunes, Boca Juniors informó que Fernando Gago sufrió un desgarro de cinco milímetros en el recto anterior derecho que lo mantendría fuera de las canchas, por al menos dos semanas.

El mediocampista se retiró reemplazado en el Superlcásico ante River y todo indica que se perdería los próximos dos partidos de Boca, ante Rosario Central y Godoy Cruz.

Además, Gago fue desafectado de la convocatoria de la selección argentina de cara a las últimas dos fechas de Eliminatorias, ante Perú y Uruguay. En su reemplazo, Sabella convocaría a un mediocampista del fútbol local.

Gago regresó a Boca para disputar el Torneo Inicial y participó en cinco de los diez partidos del campeonato. Con él en cancha, Boca ganó cuatro partidos y empató el restante.

Sabella convoca a Roncaglia

BUENOS AIRES -- El defensor de la Fiorentina de Italia Facundo Roncaglia será convocado por el entrenador del seleccionado argentino, Alejandro Sabella, para la última doble fecha de las Eliminatorias Sudamericanas rumbo al Mundial de Brasil 2014.

Roncaglia, surgido en Boca pero que fue dirigido por Sabella en Estudiantes de La Plata, se sumará en las próximas horas a los entrenamientos del seleccionado en Ezeiza, de cara a los partidos frente a Perú y Uruguay.

La convocatoria fue confirmada hoy por el club de Florencia a través de su cuenta oficial en la red social Twitter: "Llegó la convocatoria de Roncaglia para la selección nacional", publicó.

El defensor, al que Sabella seguía con atención desde hace tiempo, aparece como alternativa por las lesiones de Hugo Campagnaro, del Inter italiano, y Cristian Ansaldi, del Zenit de Rusia.

One goal enough for Boca in the ´superclasico´

BUENOS AIRES -- "You have to adjust your aim", declared Boca manager Carlos Bianchi in a recent press conference before a game against Quilmes. Known as El Virrey (The Viceroy), he has been calling for this week after week. Like the prolific goal scorer he used to be, Bianchi finds it unacceptable to waste so many chances. River´s manager Ramon Diaz asked the same from his players. But this wish would only be granted to one.

Both River Plate and Boca Juniors, overlooking the "medical problems" of the latter, came into the match on Sunday under similar circumstances in Argentina´s Torneo Inicial: they were both getting positive results, yet with unconvincing play due to team seemingly bipolar disorders and difficulty in finishing off goal scoring chances. The Superclasico required a victory for one or the other, which meant that goal scoring was essential. And in the end Boca adjusted its aim...

Similar moments, but very different styles and opposing ideas. River was true to form: it came out firing. There was nothing else they could do. Estadio Monumental for the home side coupled with a slightly lower position in the standings compared to their nemesis brought on obligatory play. In its prior nine matches, River had exhibited intense brand of football with decent play at certain moments, and at others, appeared dazed and confused.

Conversely, Boca was limited due to all the problems arising during the week --a slew of injuries-- and preferred to hold back. Perhaps Boca knew that the high intensity of River at the start would not be sustained for long, or it was just looking for the right moment to strike.

In effect, after having wasted at least three clear chances (two headers by Federico Andrada and one by Gabriel Mercado) that drowned the momentum, Boca´s midfield showed up, which Diaz had been so worried about.

And his players could do little to stop them. Christian Erbes, showing no signs of having been injured, took charge of the counter-attack allowing Fernando Gago to move up. River sought to take advantage of the little marking on the right side but ran into Jesus Mendez and Cata Diaz, who also looked to be playing at their fullest ability.

And what about Juan Roman Riquelme? He almost never touched the ball. Yet when he stepped onto the field, practically without moving, he revived the whole team. With just two touches he was able to put his team into attack mode. There was no coordination with Gago, although he facilitated play. Riquelme played intelligently and with precision while Gago contributed speed and mobility. The performance of Juan Manuel Martinez and the forward play of Manuel Sanchez Mino brought together the perfect combination for Emmanuel Gigliotti to do what Bianchi expected of him when he was called to play for Boca rather than for Mexico: score goals.

Specifically, the only score of the match came with a steal at midfield, Riquelme´s dish to the right wing to a wide open Martinez, and with the area flooded, a cross to Gigliotti who one-touched it into the goal. This is no more and no less than was Bianchi has expected.

On the other hand, either he didn´t pay attention to Diaz or he erred with the midfield but he chose to negate the good play of the other team, as he stated before the game. Carlos Carbonero has trouble defending and so Boca came in from the right side frequently. Nor did Ariel Rojas have much impact, both on defense and offense. Osmar Ferreyra had signed with a River Plate team that had already lost its form.

Perhaps Leonardo Ponzio or Matias Kranevitter would have been better company for Cristian Ledesma at Lazio. Ponzio, as a defensive midfielder who came on for Jonatan Maidana, showed little precision. Despite this, play did not stay in the middle and River was able to create several chances. They took advantage of the sides with Carbonero in the middle and Vangioni playing deeper. Teofilo Gutierrez despite shooting one off the post, continues to lack presence in the penalty area. Manuel Lanzini didn´t coordinate well and played more as an individual. Rodrigo Mora was not on very long but headed one off the post. River fought to the very end but Boca had already pulled the curtains on the game.

After having scored the go-ahead goal to make it 1-0, Boca showed little ambition for increasing its lead. When Riquelme asked to be substituted and Gonzalo Escalante came on, Boca pulled back and defended for the rest of the game. Boca simply held on to the ball thanks in part to River´s nervous play that resulted in gifting it several times.

Boca supporters were banned, due to fan violence measures.River was too affected by the goal and was never the same team after. And as time wore on, Estadio Monumental, all colored in red and white, started to feel gloomy. The team lost hope and fell apart. The performance reflected on by Ramon Diaz afterwards was there, without a doubt. Purpose, experience and leadership were all absent. Three traits Boca showed.

Did River Plate play better? If centering the ball and creating lots of chances, but not scoring any goals is playing well, then yes. Did Boca play better? No. A big team that does not show any hunger for more goals and settles for a 1-0 score, which for a long time turns the attacking game over to its opponent, cannot be better. This was the most intelligent thing to do for taking the Superclasico. Boca simply was patient, scored, and then shut it down. Simply put: They won.

And that´s what El Virrey ordered

Mayke: Cruzeiro´s ´new Maicon´ takes on starring role

Brasileirao side Cruzeiro have had their fair share of talented right-backs in recent years, with Roma´s Maicon and Inter Milan´s Jonathan among those to have made their name at the Mineirao. A Raposa supporters, though, have spent the season hailing the rise of another potential star in the position -- 20-year-old Mayke.

It is to Maicon whom he has most often been compared this season and his predecessor has been impressed by what he has seen. "He is a tall full-back, who stands out for his speed and who has the power to get to the byline," the Champions League winner told Globo Esporte earlier this summer. "He is a straightforward full-back, who doesn´t attempt too much. Football is about that -- simplicity. If he continues as he is, he will have a brilliant future."

On Sunday night, as Cruzeiro maintained their 11-point advantage at the top of the Brasileirao, the youngster was in fine fettle to aid in a 4-1 defeat of struggling Nautico. At both ends of the pitch, he was heavily involved throughout and his surging runs up the right flank proved a major issue for the hosts in the second period -- culminating in his late goal.

Mayke keeps the ball well when his side are in possession, has good quality in his final ball and has adapted impressively quickly to the demands of his first season at first-team level. Cruzeiro have built a tremendous side upon some big name players of the Brazilian domestic scene, but are also bringing through a spritely young crop of players in the likes of Mayke, Lucas Silva, Ricardo Goulart and Alisson. A bright future would appear to lie ahead in Belo Horizonte if they can build upon the considerable successes of 2013.

Juan Manuel Iturbe - Coming of age in Verona?

When 20-year-old Iturbe moved from Cerro Porteno to Porto in 2011, he was hailed as the future of Argentine football, having been the star player of his country´s Under-20 side at the World Cup that summer. Indeed, Iturbe was already a full international -- albeit for Paraguay -- and looked set to flourish in Iberia with a side renowned for developing South American talents in recent years.

It hasn´t quite gone to plan for the forward, though, and even a loan spell back to Argentina with River Plate last season failed to see the "Paraguayan Messi" truly show his full potential. It is in this context, then, that Iturbe´s recent outings for Verona -- where he has scored twice in two starts over the last week -- are particularly encouraging.

A free-kick against Livorno last week was followed by another excellent left-foot effort this weekend, but it was the direct dribbling and inventiveness of Iturbe that really caught the eye. The Argentine looks determined to seize his opportunity in Italy this season and, if he can, it will not be long before he is once more discussed in the same glowing terms as just a couple of years ago.

Roundup: ´Clasico´ falls a little flat

Ah, the clasico. The rivalry, the heat, the hate, the thrill - it all fell a little flat this year between Chivas and Club America.

Ideally, both teams should be vying for trophies every season, since it gives the clasico that extra ingredient when both teams are headed for the playoffs. Instead, Guadalajara´s horrible season has left them as bottom-of-the-league roadkill for the top-of-the-table Aguilas tank rolling merrily by.

Instead, the only question before the game was whether Chivas would be able to gum up the treads and salvage some pride with a win or a draw versus America.

In the end, Guadalajara couldn´t even manage a goal, falling 2-0, to their bitter rivals.

If Pumas, with their pitiful goal production, hadn´t also managed to lose, 1-0, on the weekend to Santos Laguna, Chivas would be dead last in the league. Instead, the historic squad is tied for that dishonor with Pumas and Atlas.

At the top of the table, the league leaders continue to reign with 31 points earned. Raul Jimenez is coming into his own in club play, scoring the first goal for Las Aguilas and assisting on the second.

Leon is the closest trailing squad in the table, having earned 25 points. That club dispatched Puebla, 3-1, in a game that highlighted their controlled team play and effective tactics. The win kept Leon just two points above a pack of four rival clubs that hold 23 points.

Toluca leads those by virtue of goal differential. The players held that advantage by defeating Tigres 2-1 on Saturday, severely denting the playoff hopes of Tigres.

Morelia did its part to keep pace, defeating Chiapas FC 2-1, with Hector Mancilla had the winning goal. Cruz Azul scrapped its way to an away win versus Atlas to stay even in that race with Morelia, Santos and Toluca.

All but two of the matches won this past weekend were decided by a single goal. Tight games are a sure sign that the liguilla is fast approaching. The top eight teams make the playoffs, and the battle for points is full-blown. Only Club America has cracked 30 points, while four clubs have only earned single digits.

Club Tijuana proved that there is still a dog in the fight by defeating Queretaro to move into ninth place on the table, just outside of the playoffs. That eighth and final liguilla entry is currently held by Queretaro, but that won´t last if other clubs can help it.

Atlante lifted itself off the very bottom of the table at the expense of Monterrey, winning 2-1. Pachuca and Veracruz, adrift of the playoff places, produced the only draw of the weekend in their 1-1 encounter.

Four weeks remain in the Liga MX season, but like the deadened clasico, league action has been a bit stilted of late. To many Mexican fans, the reason for this is very clear: With Mexico in danger in World Cup qualifying, it’s hard for fans to cut loose and enjoy club games normally. El Tri’s struggles hang over many die-hard fans, making it difficult to put that aside to enjoy normal club action.