Boca hardly had time to celebrate. After being crowned champion of the Professional League Cup on Sunday in Córdoba with the 3-0 win over Tigre, the squad led by Sebastián Battaglia returned to practice this Monday with their minds set on Thursday’s duel against Deportivo Cali, at the that will define their future in the Copa Libertadores.
“We have to celebrate, but we have to change the chip right away and think about Thursday,” summarized captain Carlos Izquierdoz, a message that was downloaded as soon as the team completed the Olympic lap at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium. Boca is playing against Deportivo Cali for the main objective of the year, which is the Copa Libertadores. With seven points from five games, Boca is one unit below their next rival, so they must beat them to get ahead of them in the table.
But beyond the importance of the next commitment, the club’s vice president, Juan Román Riquelme, took advantage of the success achieved on Sunday to value his management. In that sense, the idol considered since he came to the leadership “the achievements are little valued” and regretted that he “sells more” that there is “mess” in the club. “The things that Boca achieves are little valued. Two and a half years ago we have been and we are the team that won the most. And that we still have two finals left,” Riquelme said in statements to Radio 10.
The vice president and head of the Football Council celebrated that “little by little” Boca is “going back to being a football club” since he hinted that in the previous administration it was used “for something else”. “That’s wonderful and the fans enjoy it a lot. I didn’t imagine going back to Boca after being a footballer. If I’m at the club it’s thanks to the fans,” thanked the leader who won the December 2019 elections with little more than half of the votes.
Boca’s semester was convulsive but Riquelme assured that they never doubted the continuity of Sebastián Battaglia. “We never doubt. We can’t go out every day to clarify the things they say,” explained Román, who also raised the following dilemma: “We don’t know if he sells more when he gets into trouble than when we win.” For this reason, he has also already signed up for Thursday’s commitment, which can change the social mood in the face of a bad result. “We are confident that we are going to have a good game and the people are going to support us. The players got used to playing important games often and we have a wide squad for the coach to define. As of today the celebrations are over and we can think about the end of Thursday”, highlighted the now leader.
The villa case
Beyond the sporting aspect, the case of Sebastián Villa, accused and accused of aggravated sexual abuse, continues to generate tension in Boca. And in that sense, Riquelme tried to clarify his position after the controversy generated by his statements last week, when he stated that the player was a great professional. Now, the leader assured that the club will act when the justice dictates it and, for the first time, he repudiated the fact.
“When justice rules what happens, the club will take the measures it has to take, as appropriate. I see it that way,” Riquelme said regarding Villa, who was denounced on Friday, May 13, for the alleged rape of a young woman that occurred in June of last year at the soccer player’s house. “We (the Football Council) are not judges. It is such a sensitive subject that you have to think 74 times what to say. Let’s wait to see what the court says. We all think the same. Now I have to get to the club and find out everything, now I wouldn’t know how to tell you, “explained the former “10” of Boca. However, he clarified that he repudiates the facts denounced by the victim towards the Colombian player: “You, I, I think we all repudiate. I am a normal person and it is reality. When we talk about football, we talk about football. When it’s another topic, well, it makes us angry, you, me, everyone “.
Boca’s vice president also mentioned his statements last week in an interview with the sports channel ESPN, in which he avoided talking about the subject and said that “Villa is an example as a professional” and that “he is the best soccer player Argentinian”. “The other day I made a football note and if we talk about football we have to separate things. Soccer is one thing and the other topic is different”, Riquelme clarified and added: “When I talk about soccer, I talk about soccer and this boy knows how to play soccer. There is nothing wrong with him. Then I have to endure three days that they say that Riquelme this, the other. I speak quite clearly. They’re not going to make me nervous.”
Finally, Riquelme said that Villa is “emotionally beaten” and that he is receiving psychological treatment by club professionals. “There are psychologists and many people behind. We accompany you every day. And he is fine. He is beaten, as he corresponds. We cannot do more than that”, he concluded.