Juanfer Quintero, Roger Martínez, Johan Carbonero, the surprising scorer of the League Cup, Maravilla Martínez... Racing has a team to fly, but it has not yet spread its wings. Despite this, Gustavo Costas did not back down from the words he spoke on the day of his presentation ("we have to stop competing, it's time to win something international") and redoubles his bet in advance of his Cup debut tonight. Sudamericana against Sportivo Luqueño in Paraguay.
Gustavo Adolfo Costas has an enthusiasm as great as the nerves he shows every game on the side of the field. And, despite having suffered some setbacks that left him with no margin for error in the Argentine competition, the coach who was the mascot of José's Team swears that his Racing is going for everything: "Of the four tournaments, we have to win at least two" , it's played.
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Achieving something with Racing and even more so with the South American team would be something beautiful
. You have to work and I know it will be very hard, but I have enormous faith," said the coach on ESPN, with his sights set on the international tournament.
💬 "I SAID IT WHEN I ARRIVED: #RACING 🎓 NEEDS TO WIN SOMETHING INTERNATIONAL."
🎙️ Gustavo Costas on #ESPN.pic.twitter.com/0VJyTVH8Sg
— Paso a Paso RC (@PasoaPasoRC) April 4, 2024
The last time the Academy won an international title, Costas was part of the team but as a player. This is the 1988 Super Cup, a true team that Coco Basile put together with Fillol in goal, Ruben Paz in the middle, Toti Iglesias, Catalán and Medina Bello up front and Costas at the back with Néstor Fabri.
"Racing needs to achieve something international again. Many years ago when I played it was the last time, a lot has happened. Championships have been achieved, they have risen and it is another club today and I think we have to aim for that," insists the coach.
Costas emphasized the tight schedule facing the Academy: "We play on Thursday night, we arrive at the hotel at five in the morning on Friday, we have Saturday and we play on Sunday... We have almost nothing."
And, somehow he retraced his steps. The thing is that, beyond the fact that "Racing needs to achieve something international", as Costa repeats over and over again, this Thursday he is saving some players for Sunday's momentous match against Lanús.
The coach saves one of his aces, the different player that Racing has: Juanfer Quintero will not be the starter in the cup debut tonight at 9 p.m. "Everyone wants to play, but we have to be physically well. We have to see the rival , see which match can be more physically intense. I want Juanfer to be 100% on Sunday," he explained.
💬 "I ALWAYS TALK TO JUANFER (QUINTERO). I WANT TO HAVE HIM 100% BY SUNDAY."
🎙️ Gustavo Costas on #ESPN. pic.twitter.com/cuxsRlaAuO
— Paso a Paso RC (@PasoaPasoRC) April 4, 2024
Of his other ace, Maravilla Martínez, he said the following: "He touches the ball very little, but he has spectacular quality. I don't know if he is the best in Argentine football but he is giving us the goal we are missing, because sometimes we have many arrivals and if he is not there we are missing.
"In these four championships we have to go for at least two. Winning two championships and if we win the Sudamericana would be the dream of my life," he concluded.