When this Wednesday at 9:10 p.m. referee
Yael Falcón Pérez
starts the final between
River
and
Estudiantes
of the
2023 Argentine Super Cup
at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium,
Martín Demichelis will begin to experience the hottest 90 minutes since he has been coach of River
.
There is no talk of the most important game of his cycle because he has already experienced
three Superclásicos
(2 wins and a draw) and a round of 16 series of the
Copa Libertadores
.
But it is written hot because Micho has
too much to lose and not much to gain
.
If it is imposed, it would be logical because the Núñez cast has a higher hierarchy than that of La Plata.
On the other hand, if it falls and it is
Enzo Pérez
dressed as Pincha who keeps the cover of the newspapers,
the relationship with the millionaire fans could reach a high peak of discomfort
.
Enzo Pérez and Martín Demichelis will meet again this Wednesday in Córdoba for the Super Cup final.
River has not been playing well, it must be said.
He won only one game in the last 6
.
And much more: he added 8 of the last 18 points in dispute;
that is, just
44.4 percent of the units
.
These cold and worrying numbers are coupled with the team's poor play and the repeated errors in the readings of the duels, especially when making changes.
It is also true that
River is undefeated so far this year
: they won 5 and drew 6. But Demichelis knows well that this streak says little.
That is why this week he opted for secrecy and silence to prepare for the final.
The presence of Enzo Pérez in Estudiantes is heavy for Demichelis.
The man from Mendoza, the last of River's idols, left through the back door, antagonized by the coach.
The millionaire fans also do not forgive Micho for that fight that culminated in the captain's tearful goodbye.
The photo of Enzo Pérez smiling and with the Super Cup in his hands, it is insisted, would be too powerful
.
Demichelis looks confused.
He has not managed to give the team an identity, something that he had achieved in the first months of 2023. He changes schemes and performers from one game to another.
And that permanent rotation has taken confidence out of the footballers.
The Chilean
Paulo Díaz
and the Colombian
Miguel Borja
are the most regular.
The rest of the players alternate good and bad.
A particular case is that of
Esequiel Barco
: he cannot finish taking off.
The former Independiente midfielder has the coach's support because he has used him in most of the games.
But he changed his functions (player, striker, left winger, left midfielder, left midfielder) and that hurt him;
In the last games he was closer to the central midfielder than to the rival goal.
Photo: MARCELO CARROLL - CLARIN
River's performance in the tie against Independiente for the League Cup was poor and it is presumed that Demichelis will make some modifications.
The departure of
Claudio Echeverri
is necessary: it is still difficult for him to get into the rhythm of the First Division.
Facundo Colidio
would take his place
, with
Pablo Solari
fighting for the vacancy.
Ignacio Fernández
,
Rodrigo Aliendro
,
Rodrigo Villagra
and
Barco
would be in midfield.
Defense is what worries the DT the most.
Paulo Díaz is the only one who has a guaranteed place.
Marcelo Herrera
would continue on the right side
.
The doubts:
Leandro González Pirez
or
Sebastián Boselli
and
Enzo Díaz
or
Milton Casco
.
Estudiantes, meanwhile, reached the final for being the winner of the Argentine Cup.
And he arrived in Córdoba full of hope.
Eduardo Domínguez
will be able to count on former Boca
Eros Mancuso
and he will be the right back.
In the middle, in addition to Enzo Pérez, the experienced José Sosa and Ascacibar will move.
Pincha will seek to lift its third National Cup after the 2023 Argentine Cup, the 1945 Republic Cup and the 1944 Escobar Cup. For River, meanwhile, it would be the 17th National Cup and would equal Boca.
But the tournament number of one or the other will barely be a colored fact when Yael Falcón Pérez marks the end.
When that whistle happens, all the cameras will go to Martín Demichelis (he will direct his 67th game: he won 39, tied 15 and lost 12) and with Enzo Pérez (he will play with the Estudiantes shield on his shirt and with River's shield tattooed on his your back).
One will be smiling and the other will not.
And a new story will be written...