That controversial stage that featured
Juan Román Riquelme
before and after the defeat in the
2012 Copa Libertadores final against Corinthians
, had not been clarified by any player to date.
Walter Erviti,
part of the team that lost 2 to 0 at the Pacaembú in San Pablo, broke the silence and stated that “
we didn't know anything before the final
.”
The strained relationship between
Riquelme and the then Boca coach, Julio César Falcioni, is well known.
However, from a sporting point of view they did not do badly with the undefeated title in the 2011 Apertura Tournament and with great performances by Román, although he arrived injured at the final stretch.
But what triggered the coexistence of the team (players and coaching staff) was when hours before the rematch against Timao in Brazil (it had been 1-1 in the Bombonera) the hitch declared that it would be their
"
last final"
, and gave understand that he would leave the club.
After 12 years, Erviti explained in a conversation with ESPN:
“
We did not have any type of information nor had he spoken to us
”
and added bluntly:
“
We were used to the rumors that spread, spread and will always spread around Román so "What he means to Boca
.
"
Walter Erviti recalled the defeat against Corinthians in the 2012 CONMEBOL Libertadores final and the news of Riquelme's departure that night at Pacaembú.#ESPNF360 |
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At that time there was speculation that there was an intern in the squad that divided the players.
There were those who were loyal to Riquelme and those who were on the coach's side.
The version had been installed in the media, but
the protagonists always denied it.
“
Boca always has rumors.
We had already learned it and were aware, but it did not affect us in what had to do with the 90 minutes.
I am honest with you, I have spoken many times about Román and I do it with a lot of respect because I always said the things I say to him
,” said Erviti.
He also made it clear that any other speculation was not going to hinder the team's performance, especially in an American final.
“
Román, before the games, is a very particular person when he begins to live it and feel it
.
The way he conveys it to you, the way he leads, the way he is the commanding voice in the locker room and speaks when he goes out on the field... and he was the same as always, so there was no way to assume that Something strange was happening
,” explained the former footballer from Mar del Plata.
Falcioni had already said that
“we lost that final before playing it, there were many things in the run-up
”
and he put his finger on the sore spot.
“
We played that final with the conviction that we were up to the task of competing against a great team
,” Erviti highlighted.
“
On the one hand I thank God for allowing me the opportunity to have played it, because it is a great experience;
On the other hand, he asked him why he allowed me to lose her, what is the teaching he wants to give me.
It is one of the finest sensations I had of being so close to something and at the same time so far away
”, he expanded on the memory of the remembered confrontation against Corinthians.