Snak

Fernando Cavenaghi: "Para mí, ahora empieza mi carrera de nuevo"

BUENOS AIRES --El delantero de River Plate Fernando Cavenaghi expresó hoy sus ganas por ser el capitán en este tercer ciclo suyo en la institución de Núñez.

"En mis últimas dos etapas fui capitán. Sería espectacular ser capitán ahora", afirmó el atacante.

Y resaltó: "Para mí, ahora empieza mi carrera de nuevo. A los 30 años y en el club del cual soy hincha".
"Arranco de cero. El pasado no se cambia. Ahora tengo que hacer las cosas bien y hacer muchos goles", expresó el delantero, que proviene del Pachuca mexicano.

Cavenaghi, al igual que en su presentación, dijo que su objetivo es volver a ser campeón con la camiseta de River.

"Este es un proceso nuevo que va a llevar su tiempo. Ojalá podamos salir campeones", subrayó. El delantero destacó que "es un orgullo" contar en el club con el uruguayo Enzo Francescoli, Amadeo Carrizo, Norberto Alonso y Ariel Ortega, quienes trabajarán bajo la gestión del presidente Rodolfo D´Onofrio. "Cuando un jugador se pone la camiseta de River lleva una responsabilidad enorme, y un delantero más", aseguró el atacante.

Al ser consultado sobre la manera de jugar de Ramón Díaz, Cavenaghi dijo que al riojano siempre le gustó tener un enganche en el campo, aunque aseveró que el esquema 4-4-2 "también es bueno".

Lidt om den næste argentinske træner kapacitet.

VIVA EL SAMPAOLISMO! – CHILE ARE GOING TO BRAZIL

Chile confirmed their place at next year’s World Cup it is nearly a year to the day Claudio Borghi made an impassioned last stand in the face of criticism over his management of the Chilean national team, following three successive defeats in World Cup Qualifying.

With much work to do and improvement needed he told the press: “Yo no tengo dudas que se va a clasificar al munidal” – I have no doubt that we are going to qualify for the World Cup.

Less than one month later his 21 month spell in charge of La Roja came to an end in disarray – a theme which plagued his time leading the national side. A 3-1 friendly defeat to Serbia in Switzerland was the final straw for ANFP president Sergio Jadue who relieved Borghi of his duties in the minutes that followed the conclusion of the match. The embarrassing defeat was Chile’s fifth in a row – a run of matches which saw La Roja pick up four red cards.

His words, however, ring true. But that is thanks to the effect of ex-Universidad de Chile manager Jorge Sampaoli. Results are often the best barometer of a manager’s success; by analysing the qualifying matches Sampaoli’s effect is apparent. Borghi’s record reads P:9 W:4 L:5. In contrast Sampoli’s record, following the 2-1 defeat of Ecuador last night stands at P:7 W:5 D:1 L:1.

But there is much more to it than that. It is about more than results. It is about an identity. A footballing identity. Borghi had begun to alienate the Chilean public like he had some of the players and the press. In replacing Marcelo Bielsa he was replacing an icon. He was replacing someone who had given Chilean football its own identity. One of passion, pace, verve and care-free excitement. One which took them to their first World Cup in 12 years in 2010.

Borghi failed to emerge from the Bielsa shadow. Rather than embrace his predecessor he appeared to do everything he could to distance himself from his fellow Argentinean. And over time he only succeeded in distancing himself from the public and Brazil 2014 with fall outs and unusual tactical tweaks.

To emerge from a predicament in the qualifiers which had placed Chile on the outside looking in, La Roja went back to Bielsa. But not to Marcelo. To a man who was once termed ‘El Bielsa de los Pobres’ – the Bielsa of the poor.

Jorge Luis Sampaoli Moya.

The 53-year-old Argentine began coaching the youth sides of Newell’s Old Boys, a team synonymous with Bielsa, after an unusual incident attracted attention to the diminutive character, who was a defensive midfielder in Newell’s youth structure before a knee injury put paid to his playing career. He was spotted in a tree coaching an amateur side in 1995 as he explains to fifa.com.

However, it was out with his native land that he began to make a name for himself as a passionate, tracksuit and occasional baseball cap clad manager. He had a five year spell in Peru before he came to Chile for the first time as manager of the brilliantly named O’Higgins. Success in Rancagua followed, including continental qualification, which prompted Ecuadorian giants Emelec to employ his services. But it was back in Chile at Universidad de Chile where he carried out his magnum opus.

Three national championships, the club’s first continental title, a 36-game unbeaten run and a host of other records as well as a style of football that wowed and excited in equal measure to the point where the Brazilian media gave the team the moniker of ‘Barcelona of South America’.

Sampaoli accepted the similarities: “In certain games, the sheer volume of our attacks surpassed even that of Barcelona at their best.”

As clubs around the world noted the success of the team players began to migrate, while offers were increasing for the man behind the La U revolution. And when the national team job became available, with Bielsa still at Athletic Bilbao, there was only one candidate for the job. A job which Sampaoli had admitted on previous occasions he would be keen to take, much to the chagrin of Borghi. And it was on December 3 that the upturn in La Roja’s fortunes began with his appointment.

Chile’s players, including captain Claudio Bravo, emphasised the need for Chile to return to their high-intensity and attacking identity. And that is exactly what they would get. There was no intimidation about being regarded as Bielsa MKII. Instead Sampaoli embraced it. After all he developed his coaching skills by listening to recordings of Bielsa’s talks on his headphones when he went walking.

“My relationship with Bielsa is almost mythical. Through his excellence he justifies an attacking style that I have always identified with, and I subscribe to his philosophy and ideas. Although Marcelo is constantly evolving, he has never lost the ability to convince his charges that they are as good as anyone, which makes him a central figure even when results go against him. That’s an admirable trait.”

One of the first objectives was to travel around South America and Europe to sit down with a host of national team players to present his plan for the team. He had the players buy into his philosophy as he returned to Bielsa values. He made them feel wanted – even the players who had long since retired and were reluctant to return or players who had been banished.

After months of persistence Sampaoli persuaded David Pizarro to return to the team since October 2005, while also convincing Humberto Suazo back with the national team in desperate need of a striker.

But the biggest move has been with Jorge Valdivia – the only player from the Bautizazo Scandal who had not returned, following a very public falling out with Borghi. A meeting between Sampaoli and Valdivia in Brazil, while Sampaoli was in charge of La U, was the beginning of a burgeoning relationship between the two. And there has had to be patience with, as always, injury problems impinging El Mago. But he has returned and starred in a hybrid of a number 10 and striker role and has been quick to say: “For all that Sampaoli has done for me, I could never fail.”

And fail he has not. Valdivia has headed an attacking trident completed by Eduardo Vargas and Alexis Sánchez; the latter two have scored 13 between them since Sampaoli’s appointment.

Sampaoli is always committed to playing with three forwards to help pin back the opposition. Vargas and Sánchez offer pace, directness, skill and a goal threat and also open space for Valdivia to offer his wizardry, threading passes through for his fellow forwards’ incisive runs or runs from deep by Eugenio Mena, Mauricio Isla and the rejuvenated Arturo Vidal.

The formation is often dependent on the number of forwards the opposition play with Sampaoli, like Bielsa before him, keen to have one more centre back than the opposition do striker. The players are comfortable fluctuating between 3-4-3 and 4-3-3. But it is not Pizarro who is the fulcrum in midfield. It is Sampaoli’s general from his La U days – Marcelo Díaz. Another feature of Sampaoli’s management – ‘names’ don’t matter. Díaz plays in a more advanced role for club side Basel but he is at home at the base of the midfield. With the team’s focus on being on the front foot, Díaz plays quick, often vertical, passes to team mates, never looking fazed in possession. He brings a semblance of serenity to what are often frantic affairs. It is no surprise that Sampaoli’s only dropped points in qualifying came when Díaz wasn’t playing.

Despite losing his first competitive match to Peru, the identify and mentality of his La U side has transferred to the national team – helped by significant presence of players who played under Sampaoli at La U.

“We tried to instil in them the habit of questioning precepts like, ‘you can’t play the same both home and away; ‘you can’t go out and attack Brazilian team’; ‘you shouldn’t set out to play an offensive game at altitude’ . . . I think that’s what made us almost unbeatable, at least during 2011.”

That mentality was clearly evident on Friday when Chile tore into Colombia, only for a questionable sending off to allow the home side back into the game. It was also apparent when Chile went toe-to-toe with Spain in a friendly only to be denied a famous victory in the dying seconds.

Under Borghi there was little structure at times. You only have to look at his team selection for an away match against Argentina, lining up with two number 10s and two number 9s. It was a disaster that ended in a 4-1 defeat. The defence was often the loser in it all as they were afforded little protection, the gap to midfield bordering on suicidal. There were three clean sheets under Borghi but also the concession of four to Argentina and Uruguay as well as three to Colombia and Ecuador.

Under Sampaoli the defence push much higher up the pitch to aid the team’s pressing game. In the aftermath of the Colombia game Sampaoli offered a pertinent point that the team do not possess the necessary defenisve ability to ‘defend the box’. After all he has often played with Gary Medel and Gonzalo Jara at centre back, something which will be of interest to English readers. But following Sampaoli’s arrival the average goals conceded per game in the qualifiers dropped from two to one.

If anyone is waiting for the team to revert to type and self-destruct off the field think again. Sampaoli, a strict disciplinarian at times, has earned the respect of the team. One of his biggest off-field victories was giving the team an afternoon off after it was requested by the squad. The problem which arose regarded Charles Aránguiz, who missed a meet-up with the national team after taking sleeping pills. The issue has been dealt with.

There will be none of the problems which marked Borghi’s time in charge, like the slanging matches in the press with players. For Sampaoli, a perfectionist, it’s only about football and winning. Winning the right way. He is a football obsessive.

Between now and June La Roja are set to play the best in Europe. And in June, under Sampaoli, they could prove themselves to be one of the best in the world. They, like Bielsa’s Chile before them, will have their admirers while doing so.

The era of Bielsita is in the past. Now is the era of Sampaolismo.

og fra 31 december 2011 - IBWM arkiv.

EL BIELSA DE LOS POBRES

Joel Sked with the skinny on Universidad de Chile and a true perfectionist.

In the presence of more illustrious South American nations - Brazil’s financial strength allowing clubs to compete with their European counterparts, Argentina’s continued production of the world’s most sought after forwards and Uruguay’s successful national team, reaching the World Cup semi-final and winning the Copa America in the last 18 months with a population similar to Wales – Chilean football is silently flourishing. Or it was, until Universidad de Chile, known as La U, decided to attract attention to the west coast of South America by creating history and breaking records, all while playing some of the most exciting football in world football.

On the 15th of December they won their first international trophy in their first ever final; defeating LDU Quito of Ecuador 3-0 in Santiago, following up their 1-0 success in Ecuador the week previous, to lift the Copa Sudamericana, becoming the first Chilean side to do so.

Not that long ago one of Chile’s most iconic clubs fell on hard times, falling into bankruptcy in 2006 before being taken over a year later by a private consortium called Azul Azul.

Now, four years later, the team have just won the Torneo Clausura (Closing Tournament) completing an unprecedented treble with the Copa Sudamericana and Torneo Apertura (Opening Tournament) already in the trophy cabinet, helped by a mammoth 36 game unbeaten run which came to an end in the dying seconds of the Clausura play-off semi-final with rivals Universidad Católica with La U already through. And much of the transformation can be put down to one man, Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli who took over for the start of the 2011 Torneo Apertura. With a reputation as a Marcelo Bielsa disciple he began, like Bielsa did, managing the youth teams of Newell’s Old Boys. However it was outside his country of birth that he got his break in management.

A five year stay in Peru saw Sampaoli take in spells with differing success at Juan Aurich, Sport Boys, Coronel Bolognesi and Sporting Cristal before his first job in Chile with O’Higgins. He took the modest Rancagua side to three consecutive play-off tournaments and qualification to the Copa Sudamericana. Ignored by clubs in his homeland and Brazil his success with La Celeste alerted Ecuador’s Emelec. In his year in charge of El Bombillo he overcame doubts from fans and media, leading the team to an opening championship win and into the two-legged grand final against none other than LDU. Even though they lost the final they took their place in the 2010 Copa Sudamericana and 2011 Copa Liberatadores.

Yet an opportunity arose back in Chile with Universidad de Chile. The club had won only one Apertura Championship since 2004 and the fans wanted a big name to lead their club. Ex- Argentina midfielder and former Catania manager Diego Simeone was among those shortlisted but Sampaoli was appointed. The appointment left the Azul Azul fans underwhelmed but the directors bought into his vision for the club.

A positive start – four wins and a draw from his first five games – was not enough for fans who had labelled Sampaoli as ‘El Bielsa de los Pobres (‘The Bielsa of the poor’). Some did not take to the way he re-shaped the team with a number of players including the experience and quality of Manuel Iturra, Walter Montillo, Miguel Pinto and Rafael Olarra moving on; players who were the hallmark of the clubs run to the semi-finals of the Copa Liberatadores in 2010.

But Sampaoli had a plan. He always has a plan. He soon brought back goalkeeper Jhonny Herrera and defender Marcos González to the club along with Albert Acevedo, Charles Aránguiz and striker Gustavo Canales on a club record-breaking deal – £825,000 – from Unión Española while promoting and playing young talent already at the club.

Relegating club icons like Diego Rivarola to a bit-part role frustrated fans but it would be easier for the Argentine to impart his philosophy into the squad with younger, less experienced players; a Bielsa theory. Sampaoli led his new team to instant success; second in the Apertura and to the play-off final against rivals Universidad Católica.

Sampaoli wanted his side to break from the clubs ‘traditional’ way of playing, much to the chagrin of fans, and adopt a high-tempo, dynamic and fluid system centred on an intense pressing game that would suffocate teams into submission. A 3-4-3 or 3-3-1-3 system was implemented with fitness and technical competence essential; wide players able to dominate their flank, central defenders comfortable in wide areas and mobile and creative midfielders. There are no fitting square pegs in to round holes, each player capable of adapting to different positions, situations and systems.

An 8-1 semi-final win over O’Higgins set up the Clásico Universitario final but Sampaoli’s first six months in charge looked like ending in disappointment, losing the first-leg at home 2-0. But it all came together in the return leg as La U overran Católica winning 4-1. That game could be identified as the turning point because what was about to transpire would be truly magical.

The summer brought about more departures as Felipe Seymour and Edson Puch left but it allowed Sampaoli to recruit the last pieces, completing his puzzle; Gustavo Lorenzetti and Osvaldo González arrived. That summer also saw defeat to Primera B side Magallanes in the Copa Chile. 14/07/2011 the date. The last loss La U would suffer. Nine straight wins would kick start the Clausura season, setting a new Chilean record for consecutive wins, beating the feat of eight wins recorded by Cobreloa (1978) and Colo Colo (2007). Participation in the Copa Sudamericana games would see games come thick and fast and the perfect start in the Clausura allowed for rotation to a squad thriving with young talent. As the squad continued to remain unbeaten throughout the Clausura season it was in continental competition that the team blossomed; the players on the field and Sampaoli off it.

Bielsa is renowned for taking 2,000 videos packed with match footage with him to the 2002 World Cup when in charge of Argentina. Similarly Sampaoli immerses himself into improving his team any way he can, working long hours, almost to the point where one shift merges with the next then the next. Off the field he is quiet and conservative. On it, white Adidas baseball cap stuck to his head, he can be seen storming around his technical area. But always studying, calculating, thinking. Looking for even the smallest of advantages. Striving for perfection.

This insight could be seen in some of Sampaoli’s decisions throughout the Copa Sudamericana campaign. In the first-leg of the final he withdrew a forward from his usual starting line-up to position Acevedo in front of the defence in a 3-1-4-2 system, frustrating LDU and winning at the altitude of Quito. Even when he did get it wrong he was quick to respond. Playing against Vasco da Gama Lorenzetti played behind three forwards in a 3-3-1-3 but seeing that it wasn’t working Sampaoli replaced him with Matías Rodríguez in the first-half, recovering to draw 1-1. No stubbornness. No indecisiveness. Only what is best for the team.

It was one of few imperfections in the sides run to Copa Sudamericana success; 12 games, 10 wins, 2 draws, 21 scored, 2 conceded. On top of their 36 games unbeaten La U broke the Chilean record for the longest time – 543 minutes – without conceding in international competition, the tournament record for least goals conceded and the best overall record in the tournaments history.

The comparisons with Bielsa do not appear to concern Sampaoli who openly admits his admiration for Bielsa: “I always set the team out to Bielsa’s philosophy . . . to show great intensity and control.” And it was only been too evident in their dispensing of Uruguay duo Fénix and Nacional, Brazil’s Flamengo and Vasco da Gama, Argentina’s Arsenal de Sarandí and LDU.

The energetic play of wing-backs Rodríguez and Eugenio Mena, dynamism and guile of midfielders Marcelo Díaz, Aránguiz and Lorenzetti, the speed of Francisco Castro all complemented by star man Eduardo Vargas. The performance that encapsulated it all was the Last 16 away-leg in Brazil against a Flamengo side containing Ronaldinho. A devastating show of aggression, pace, pressing, control and quality in all areas of the pitch saw Universidad de Chile stroll out of the Engenhão 4-0 winners as South America sat up and took notice.

While the Sampaoli/Bielsa comparison went into overdrive Brazilian football website Globoesport.com termed the Chilean side the ‘Barcelona of the Americas’ saying: “They (Universidad de Chile) have a Messi, David Villa, Xavi and Iniesta. The attacking trio formed by Lorenzetti, Vargas and Castro is the mainstay of the team.”

The ‘Xavi’ of the team, Marcelo Díaz, was missed but is an essential cog in front of the back three through his reading of the game and positioning to receive a pass at all time. A player who was previously used in a variety of positions Sampaoli made Díaz the base of the team able to slow the game down but more importantly speed it up when La U hit teams with rapid attacks.

However the man everyone wants to talk about is forward Eduardo Vargas. Internazionale, Chelsea, Manchester City and Villarreal were among those who sent scouts but the forward will join Napoli for around £11m. The eleven goals he scored in the campaign make him the competitions highest scorer beating Humberto Suazo’s record of ten and his 13 goals in continental competition altogether takes him past Marcelo Salas’ club record in CONMEBOL competitions.

The high-intensity system is perfect for him, playing on the right of a front three – but equally capable in each position. As quick with the ball as he is without it, he combines a low centre of gravity to bounce off challenges with his impeccable fitness, ideal when pressing from the front. He has perfected the out-to-in run from wide, using it to great advantage – including a goal for Chile; the second of two in seven caps. Defenders have to be wary not to allow him to turn with the ball or leave space in behind; his goal in the second-leg of the final shows him at his breathtaking best. He will be sorely missed but there is talent waiting in the wings; Felipe Gallegos, 18-year-old Christian Bravo and recent signing Junior Fernandes.

A bigger miss however would be Sampaoli who has admitted to being interested in the Chile job when Claudio Borghi exits. But his departure is unlikely in the short-term and in the New Year all eyes will be on the team of the moment in the Copa Liberatadores to see if they can complete a continental double, turning their 84 year wait for an international trophy in to two in the space of a year. Not too bad for ‘El Bielsa de los Pobres’.

A more apt nickname may now be ‘El Perfeccionista’.

SATURDAY: AMERICA CRUISE TO OPENING VICTORY PLUS ALL THE OTHER GAMES

Antonio Mohamed’s reign as Club America Coach got off to the perfect start yesterday in the Estadio Azteca as they swept Tigres aside by three goals to nil. Goals from Luis Gabriel Rey, Paul Aguilar and Raul Jimenez ensured Las Aguilas began the Torneo Clausura in comfortable fashion and can now hope to go one better than in the Apertura. Later, there was further evidence that it will take a few weeks for teams to get up to speed after the close season.

Club America 3 – 0 Tigres

They may have lost in the Final of the Apertura and then had to replace Miguel Herrera but it appeared business as usual in the Azteca as Antonio ‘El Turco’ Mohamed got off to the perfect start as manager. America led after just 10 minutes when Luis Gabriel Rey’s effort from outside the box was deflected off the head off Carlos Salcido and past Enrique Palos.

On the half hour mark it was two as America were able to benefit from some woeful defending and perhaps a generous offside decision not given. The Tigres defence failed to clear their lines and the ball was eventually worked to a suspiciously offside, Paul Aguilar who made no mistake in slotting the ball in.

Just after half time Las Aguilas made certain the victory when Raul Jimenez pounced on further defensive frailties.
A great start for El Turco and next up is his former side, Tijuana.

http://www.youtube.com/w…7iEDJzlKdzw

Monterrey 0 – 0 Cruz Azul

The match promised so much but in reality failed to live up to pre-match expectation. Humberto Suazo came closest to giving Monterrey the victory late on but his shot came back off the post.

http://www.youtube.com/w…haNMAaDc4fE

Pachuca 0 – 1 Toluca

Pablo Velazquez’s low shot in the 75th minute was enough to give Toluca a hard fought win on the opening day and give them a perfect start to the Clausura.

http://www.youtube.com/w…wDSEl7MmLII

Atlas 0 – 0 Tijuana

Los Xolos travel back to Tijuana with a valuable away point but in truth the match itself was lacking in any real quality. Atlas will be ruing a missed opportunity for a crucial 3 points after Edson Rivera saw his first half penalty saved by Cirilo Saucedo.

http://www.youtube.com/w…1BoNyZmF6Mo

Chiapas 1 – 1 Veracruz

Both sides will be looking to make the improvements needed this season to reach the playoffs and will not be displeased with the starts they have made. Lucas Viatri headed Chiapas in front after 20 minutes but it was sensationally cancelled out by Jehu Chiapas’ vicious long range strike.

http://www.youtube.com/w…TbmuQdhgYow

Con dos juveniles como novedad, Racing continúa las prácticas

La llegada de los jóvenes Roger Martínez y Mariano Barreiro, quienes se integraron al plantel que dirige Reinaldo Merlo, resultaron la novedad del entrenamiento de “La Academia”, en el segundo día consecutivo de trabajo, con miras al comienzo del torneo Final 2014.

Merlo contó en el Cilindro de Avellaneda con las incorporaciones del delantero colombiano Martínez y del mediocampista Barreiro, que se sumaron a las prácticas y cumplieron con la rutina física estipulada.

Los futbolistas efectuaron labores de fuerza y actividades aeróbicas divididas en distintas estaciones.

Esta primera parte de la pretemporada proseguirá mañana con un turno y finalizará el lunes en una doble jornada en el estadio de Avellaneda.

El conjunto blanquiceleste proseguirá su puesta a punto en Tandil a partir del martes, cuando viajará a la ciudad del centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires.

Por ahora, la `Academia` sigue esperando por refuerzos y la gestión por el arribo del mediocampista ofensivo Víctor Figueroa, de Newell`s, asoma "complicada", según contaron fuentes de la entidad de Avellaneda.

También ingresó en una suerte de compás de espera la probable llegada del delantero Emmanuel Villa, de Tigres de México, por los aparentes inconvenientes físicos que padece el ex atacante de Huracán y Rosario Central.

Juan Manuel Lucero y Martín Giménez se reintegraron a las prácticas

Los delanteros retomaron la actividad con el plantel “cervecero”, que asumirá este segundo semestre de la temporada 2013/14 con la intención de permanecer en Primera División.

Lucero, quien había faltado en el ensayo del viernes, estuvo en el entrenamiento de la jornada en el estadio Centenario.

Lo mismo ocurrió con Giménez, quien está recuperándose de una operación de ligamentos cruzados y además se repone de una neumonía.

En cambio quien no concurrió hoy a la práctica del equipo de Blas Giunta fue el delantero Diego Diellos, que acordó su préstamo a Sarmiento de Junín.

Los jugadores que trabajan a las órdenes del técnico Giunta son Sebastián Peratta, Silvio Dulcich, Gonzalo Acevedo, Walter Benítez, Luciano Abecasis, Alan Alegre, Leonardo Alvarado, Cristian Lema, Damián Leyes, Joel Carli, Sebastián Martínez, Wilfredo Olivera, Matías Pérez, Damián Santagati, Leonel Bontempo.

Rodrigo Braña, Miguel Caneo, Matías Morales, Leandro Benítez, Jonathan Zacaría, Lucas Pérez Godoy, Sebastián Romero, Pablo Garnier, Arnaldo González, Emiliano Carrasco, Leandro Díaz, Facundo Diz, Sergio Hipperdinger, Fernando Telechea y Joaquín Boghossian.

Si bien ninguna voz oficial lo confirmó existe la alternativa de que el plantel `cervecero` no viaje este lunes rumbo a Tandil, en donde está pautada la parte mayoritaria de la pretemporada.

De acuerdo a lo revelado a Télam por un allegado al club bonaerense "los jugadores ya les avisaron a los directivos que no están dispuestos a viajar si no se les saldan los salarios de octubre", manifestó el vocero consultado.

Según la misma fuente, la dirigencia quilmeña debería abonar en las próximas horas un monto cercano a los 650 mil pesos para hacer frente a las deudas por sueldos.

and in English....

Paredes closes on Roma switch

Boca youngster, Leandro Paredes looks set to join Italian side Roma on loan according to reports. Despite being one of Boca Juniors’ prized assets and a potential successor to Juan Roman Riquelme, Roma look to have stolen a march on a host of rival clubs to secure the 19-year old.

Roma have been strongly linked with Paredes for months and will be hoping that any move will be as successful as his predecessor, Erik Lamela. Lamela flourished in Rome before sealing a huge money move to Tottenham.

It is understood that Paredes has agreed the deal with Roma but there are still some details to agree upon with Boca.

The details of the deal are a little unclear at present as Roma do not have any more places for non-EU players and so another move to an Italian side is possible.

Beating the likes of Juventus, Real Madrid and Arsenal to his signature is a real coup and if Paredes progresses as many in Argentina expect, Roma will have a real talent on their hands.

Camoranesi trabajó aparte en Racing

BUENOS AIRES -- El mediocampista Mauro Camoranesi se entrenó este domingo de manera diferenciada y no participó de la exigente rutina física que completó el resto del plantel de Racing Club, en el tercer día de la pretemporada.

Por precaución, el futbolista campeón del mundo con el seleccionado italiano en Alemania 2006 trabajó en el gimnasio con el kinesiólogo y el lunes se reintegraría a los entrenamientos junto al resto de sus compañeros.

El ex-Lanús perseguido por una serie de lesiones musculares aportó pocos minutos en el pasado Torneo Inicial y pretende realizar una buena preparación para estar a la orden del DT Reinaldo Merlo en el próximo certamen.

El resto del plantel, bajo la mirada de Mostaza y su ayudante René Daulte, se movieron sin descanso por espacio de casi dos horas en las que realizaron ejercicios de fuerza y, para finalizar, un circuito intermitente aeróbico en el césped del Cilindro de Avellaneda.

A su vez, los mediocampistas Agustín Pelletieri (lo pretende Universidad de Chile) y Rodrigo Battaglia (se iría al fútbol italiano) se ausentaron de la práctica con permiso previo.

La actividad de la Academia continuará el lunes en doble turno, aunque antes se realizarán los estudios médicos de rutina. La práctica de la tarde será abierta a la prensa.

Bianchi paró su 1º equipo en Boca

BUENOS AIRES -- Los defensores Juan Forlín y Hernán Grana, los refuerzos de Boca Juniors para el próximo Torneo Final 2014, fueron titulares este domingo en el primer ensayo de fútbol formal de la pretemporada iniciada el pasado viernes.

En el tercer día de preparación en el complejo Pedro Pompilio, el DT Carlos Bianchi probó durante 40 minutos un equipo con la inclusión de las flamantes incorporaciones ante la Reserva que terminó en triunfo por 2-1 con goles de Juan Sánchez Miño y Emmanuel Gigliotti.

En consecuencia, la primera alineación del año fue con Agustín Orion; Grana, Daniel Díaz, Forlín y Emanuel Insúa; Joel Acosta, Pablo Ledesma, Fernando Gago y Sánchez Miño; Juan Manuel Martínez y Gigliotti.

Forlín, surgido en Boca y que llega desde Qatar, y Grana, quien arribó proveniente de All Boys, son los dos refuerzos para encarar el Torneo Final 2014 que tendrá inicio el segundo fin de semana de febrero.

Anteriormente, jugaron los suplentes que formaron con Emanuel Trípodi; Leandro Marín, Federico Bravo, Guillermo Burdisso y Nahuel Zárate; Francesco Celeste, Diego Rivero, Cristian Erbes y Nicolás Colazo; Claudio Riaño y Nicolás Blandi.

Tras la práctica, el plantel xeneize quedó licenciado hasta el lunes cuando regresarán a los entrenamientos en doble o triple turno.

El plantel de River viajó a Tandil

BUENOS AIRES -- El plantel de River Plate viajó el domingo a la tarde a la ciudad serrana bonaerense de Tandil para iniciar las tareas más exigentes de pretemporada, de cara al inicio del Torneo Final que arranca en la primera semana de febrero, cuando el equipo recibirá a Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, en el estadio Monumental.

La delegación compuesta por 30 jugadores profesionales y 7 juveniles que realizan su primera pretemporada con primera partió desde el predio de Ezeiza en ómnibus tras el almuerzo y el entrenamiento de la mañana en el predio.

Los trabajos matinales del equipo consistieron en rutinas de pesas, repentización y trotes y se completaron todos las mediciones físicas que se usan de parámetro comparativos para el final de la pretemporada.

El plantel de Ramón Díaz tiene previsto llegar por la noche a Tandil para la cena en el Hotel Elegance y, el lunes, iniciará las tareas preparatorias de fondo en tres turnos de entrenamiento en el Banco Provincia y en el Golf Club de esa localidad bonaerense.

River se va a quedar en Tandil hasta el 17 de enero y en ese lapso jugará dos amistosos en Mar del Plata; el 11 de enero frente a Estudiantes de La Plata y luego el 18 frente a Boca Juniors, en el primer Superclásico del verano.

Dicho fin de semana, los jugadores tendrá las primeras jornadas de descanso, para retomar luego los trabajos en el predio de Ezeiza con otros dos Superclásicos en el calendario: el sábado 25 de enero en Córdoba, por la Copa del Banco Francés; y más tarde el 1º de febrero en Mendoza.

La delegación de River está encabezada por el directivo integrante del consejo de fútbol Norberto Alvarez y tiene previsto viajar a Tandil en la previa al Superclásico, el secretario técnico del club, Enzo Francescoli.

River, por ahora tiene un solo refuerzo, el delantero Fernando Cavenaghi, quien arrancó a la par del resto la pretemporada y el sábado firmó su contrato por un año y medio de duración; además regresó del préstamo en Argentinos Juniors, el Keko Daniel Villalva.

Los siete juveniles que hacen su debut en pretemporada serán: el arquero Nicolás Francese, de 19 años; los zagueros centrales Emanuel Mammana, Leandro Vega, de 18, y Víctor Cabrera, de 20; el lateral-volante izquierdo Julio Zúñiga, de 19; y los delanteros Sebastián Driussi, de 18, y Lucas Pugh, de 19.

Por otro lado tendrán su segunda pretemporada: el lateral Federico Vega, el enganche Tomás Martínez, el delantero Juan Kaprof y el tercer arquero Nicolás Rodríguez, el único que no debutó en Primera de este grupo.

La lista la completan los arqueros Leandro Chichizola y Marcelo Barovero y con los defensores Jonatan Maidana, Éder Álvarez Balanta, Ramiro Funes Mori, Germán Pezzella, Gabriel Mercado y Jonathan Bottinelli.

Los mediocampistas son Matías Kranevitter, Carlos Carbonero, Manuel Lanzini, Osmar Ferreyra, Martín Aguirre, Ariel Rojas, Jonathan Fabbro, Augusto Solari, Leonel Vangioni, Leonardo Ponzio y Cristian Ledesma.

Mientras que los delanteros que viajarán son Federico Andrada, Teófilo Gutiérrez, Giovanni Simeone, Daniel Villalva, Fernando Cavenaghi, Juan Carlos Menseguez y Rodrigo Mora.