(photo: MARCELO MANERA/AFP)
The coach of Rosario Central, Miguel Ángel Russo, discussed with a journalist at the press conference after the 1-0 defeat to Atlético, this Tuesday (7/5), in Argentina, in the fourth round of Group G of the Liberators cup.
Russo considered the journalist’s question about the ‘Canallas’ stance in the first half of the match at Gigante de Arroyito, in Rosário, offensive. Despite the black and white dominance, the game went into halftime tied 0-0. Galo’s winning goal, scored by Paulinho, came in the 42nd minute of the final stage.
“When the first half went into the break, did the team feel that it had become cheap because of all the play that Atlético Mineiro played and the difficulty that Rosario had in responding?”, asked the journalist, promptly rebutted by the experienced coach.
“Look, this thing about ‘getting cheap’, ‘getting expensive’ is your opinion. I don’t think football is that. In football, when you do an analysis, it’s not about ‘cheap’ or ‘expensive’. Football is something else”, began the 68-year-old Argentine, Libertadores champion with Boca Juniors in 2007.
“We knew that our opponent had a lot of possession, there is no doubt, with the players they have, the shape, the dynamics they have. We knew that the first half would be more difficult and we would have more ball flow in the second half. But that ‘expensive and cheap’ is your opinion. It’s the opinion of a very poor journalist. It is not the opinion of a distinguished journalist”, added Miguel Ángel Russo.
“It’s a popular term and a term that can be applied…”, the journalist tried to argue, but ended up being interrupted by Russo.
“It’s offensive,” concluded the Rosario Central commander.
Atlético and Rosario Central in the Libertadores
With the victory in Rosario, Atlético became the first club to qualify for the round of 16 of the 2024 Copa Libertadores. Galo reached 12 points and took the lead in Group G, with a 100% success rate.
The vice-leader at the moment is Peñarol, who beat Caracas, also this Tuesday, 1-0, and reached six points. Rosario Central is in third place, with five four points.
Galo returns to the field the following Tuesday (14/5), at 7pm, to face Peñarol, at the Campeón del Siglo Stadium, in Montevideo, in the fifth round of Group G of the Libertadores.
The following Thursday (16/5), Rosario hosts Caracas, at 7pm, at Gigante de Arroyito, in the fifth round of Group G of the Copa Libertadores, in search of recovery.
