Matías Bustos Mile
02/24/2020 - 19:14
- Clarín.com
- sports
- sports Center
The "cycle" in this vertigo football takes just 56 days. Too little to draw sharp, decisive conclusions. The protagonist tells him when he says that "we still have to play as we pretend". But the truth is that this Boca model 2020 by Miguel Russo offers differences compared to Gustavo Alfaro's 2019. With only five games (4 wins and one draw, with 8 goals in favor and 1 against) but with another philosophy. A first diagnosis of the changes.
1- Scheme and ambition. From the 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 that Gustavo Alfaro had imposed, Boca went on to play with a tactical drawing with only a recovery five (Campuzano) and with two area men with Tevez and Soldano. But beyond how they stop, the difference is where it stops. In these first games, the indication from the bank was to play in the rival field, be protagonists and take advantage of the speed of the bands. It almost always came out. Even in the home games, the central markers were positioned in the central circle and the premise for the sides (Buffarini and Fabra) is to attack decisively. Another detail: except before Independiente (it was 0 to 0 and Boca played with a man of less than 20 minutes) Russo's team always scored before his rival and did not speculate on the advantage: it was for more. There is a clear difference to 2019, when Boca adopted a defensive posture after converting. Even Marcos Díaz and Andrada, in the arc, had good interventions to maintain zero. But before they were beaten.
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2- Another midfield. The best player of this short cycle of Russo is Jorman Campuzano. And that was a decision made by the DT, when he put the Colombian (relegated in 2019) as the only central steering wheel and sat Iván Marcone in the middle. Thus, the other piece of the central circle also mutated: Pol Fernández cooperates in the brand but is much more dedicated to playing. But the coach also showed pragmatism: before Godoy Cruz, when the rival had monopolized the ball, he included Capaldo to give more oxygen to Campuzano. Will it be an option against more complex rivals or for the Copa Libertadores? Knowing how to adapt is also a virtue. In that context, the space for Bebelo Reynoso and his left foot seems limited, but it can be a solution in some encounter where a filtered pass is needed before a speed run.
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3- Freedoms for Salvio and Villa. The Colombian raised his level with respect to his 2019 version, but the big change had to do with the position. Having always been (in Tolima and Boca) on the right lane, Russo decided to try it on the left sector. But not only that, it also separated him from the constant responsibility of the recoil and with that he increased his offensive performance. Something similar happened with Salvio, because by taking away the weight of taking a mark to return to the midfield he could exploit his best version: he has 3 goals in 2 games. They get less tired and the team takes better advantage of them.
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4- A new attack. With Franco Soldano, Boca has a nine that generates few scoring opportunities but wears out to open holes that others enjoy. His pressure line is as important as his movements to leave the area and leave Tevez the decisive zone. But unlike 2019, when the searches had a lot of air shipments from the defense, now Russo's team tries to build from the bands. With Villa, Salvio and Fabra in an offensive position, there are more options for those who step on the area. Is it high? Yes, that Soldano finds better spaces to solve and that Pol Fernández, with his good punch, is encouraged to finish off the middle distance. Ábila and Zárate's revenues also respond to the times when the team may need to renew the air up.
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5- The change of Tevez. In the (good) present of Carlos Tevez there is a great merit of the coaching staff. Because as soon as he arrived he had a talk with him in which he marked the right distance. He respected his career but much more valued him day by day. He also demanded that to play he had to respond. And although he did not put together a team to surround him, he did find a place in the eleven so that he could exploit his virtues: the area. Tevez went from complaining about playing in that place with Barros Schelotto to recognize that it is the place where the opponent can do more damage. The four goals in five games count. While the renewal of his contract is being played, Juan Román Riquelme's wink also seemed to take effect. Since returning from China in 2018, this is Tevez's best face. He admitted it.
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