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South American Dispatch: Fluminense Striker Fred Has Revenge On His Mind
Goal.com’s Tim Sturtridge reports on infighting at Boca, Corinthians’ shuffle between the sticks and Fred’s revenge mission…
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Nov 21, 2009 4:55:34 PM
Everybody is having their say at the moment as Boca Juniors’ season heads towards a dismal finish. General manager Carlos Bianchi and head coach Alfio Basile have given their excuses in recent weeks as has club president Jorge Amor Ameal. Pot shots have also come in from ex-employees and former president Mauricio Macri concerning the state of the club and now rifts are starting to appear between the players on the pitch.
After a disappointing draw with Arsenal last weekend, striker Martin Palermo complained of being left isolated on the pitch. His comments were taken personally by another long serving Boca icon defender Hugo Ibarra.
"I know exactly what Martin meant but we have to be smarter with our comments during this difficult time," Ibarra said. "We are a team, I know Martin is the striker and wants to be scoring goals but during a time like this we need goals from all over the park and maybe we need to play a little differently."
The 35-year-old Ibarra is one of the most decorated players in Boca’s history with four Copa Libertadores titles and five domestic Argentine league wins to his name.
"Opponents study how we play, they know our strengths and come up with a plan to counter them," Ibarra added. "We must find variants to our play otherwise we will continue to get exposed."
With Boca’s qualification for next year’s Copa Libertadores now looking all but an impossibility, the club face up to a period of uncertainty. Despite their difference of opinion Ibarra and Palermo remain two of Boca’s most important players but they are both in the twilight of their careers.
Also speculation continues to mount that the Buenos Aires club will lose the services of Juan Roman Riquelme over the Christmas period to Corinthians of Brazil as the Argentine seems determined to play in next year’s Copa Libertadores.
With little or no cash to replace their ageing legs, things could get worse for Boca before they get any better.
Corinthians New Selection Fits Like A Glove
Corinthians coach Mano Menezes is enjoying the extra time his side’s early qualification for the Copa Libertadores has afforded him in his preparations for next season.
One area where Menezes is determined to have a good look is in between the sticks and has promised all his goalkeepers a game before the end of the season. The selection of 21-year-old goalkeeper Rafael Santos for today’s game with Nautico raised a few eyebrows around the Estadio do Pacaembu. The academy product has only one previous first team appearance to his name but his manager wanted another look at him before the end of the season.
When giving his team selection for this weekend’s game the Corinthians manager also confirmed that first choice keeper Felipe will once again take the gloves for the season’s penultimate game against Flamengo. This will be welcome news to Flamengo’s rivals in the league title race who would be disappointed if Menezes put out anything less than his strongest XI for the game.
The Corinthians head coach explained his thinking for the goalkeeper’s position for the rest of the season.
"We play every game to win but it is important to have a look at all my players," Menezes said. "Rafael Santos will play against Nautico, Felipe will play against Flamengo and Julio Cesar will take on Atletico-MG."
"I have had long discussions with my goalkeeping coach and we feel it is important to give everybody a chance," Menezes added. "There is no substitute for the pressures of playing and we need to give all our goalkeepers the chance to improve."
Fred Has Revenge On His Mind Before Copa Sudamericana Final
Fluminense are in the mood for revenge after Liga De Quito set-up a replay of last season’s Copa Libertadores final for this year’s Copa Sudamericana final.
Last year it was Liga De Quito who came out on top after winning on penalties but now Fluminense have the chance to avenge that defeat and intend to take it. The Brazilian outfit’s star striker Fred is among those who are relishing the opportunity to get back at their Ecuadoran rivals.
"We will win this one for the fans, from the semi-finals it looked as though we would be meeting them again and now all the fans are talking about it," Fred said. "We will use last year’s result to strengthen us and there is definitely a climate of revenge surrounding the game."
Fluminense manager was an interested spectator of Liga De Quito’s triumph over River Plate of Montevideo and he gave his assessment of the match.
"Once Liga De Quito got their first goal they destabilised River Plate and went up to build up a huge score," Cuca said. "Liga De Quito are a strong team and they have earned their place in the final the same as us."
The first leg of the final will be played next Wednesday in Quito with the second leg a week later in the Maracana. This is the same order of last year’s Copa Libertadores final which the Ecuadorans won 3-1 on penalties after the two games saw the teams locked at 5-5 on aggregate.
Tim Sturtridge, Goal.com
After a disappointing draw with Arsenal last weekend, striker Martin Palermo complained of being left isolated on the pitch. His comments were taken personally by another long serving Boca icon defender Hugo Ibarra.
"I know exactly what Martin meant but we have to be smarter with our comments during this difficult time," Ibarra said. "We are a team, I know Martin is the striker and wants to be scoring goals but during a time like this we need goals from all over the park and maybe we need to play a little differently."
The 35-year-old Ibarra is one of the most decorated players in Boca’s history with four Copa Libertadores titles and five domestic Argentine league wins to his name.
"Opponents study how we play, they know our strengths and come up with a plan to counter them," Ibarra added. "We must find variants to our play otherwise we will continue to get exposed."
With Boca’s qualification for next year’s Copa Libertadores now looking all but an impossibility, the club face up to a period of uncertainty. Despite their difference of opinion Ibarra and Palermo remain two of Boca’s most important players but they are both in the twilight of their careers.
Also speculation continues to mount that the Buenos Aires club will lose the services of Juan Roman Riquelme over the Christmas period to Corinthians of Brazil as the Argentine seems determined to play in next year’s Copa Libertadores.
With little or no cash to replace their ageing legs, things could get worse for Boca before they get any better.
Corinthians New Selection Fits Like A Glove
Corinthians coach Mano Menezes is enjoying the extra time his side’s early qualification for the Copa Libertadores has afforded him in his preparations for next season.
One area where Menezes is determined to have a good look is in between the sticks and has promised all his goalkeepers a game before the end of the season. The selection of 21-year-old goalkeeper Rafael Santos for today’s game with Nautico raised a few eyebrows around the Estadio do Pacaembu. The academy product has only one previous first team appearance to his name but his manager wanted another look at him before the end of the season.
When giving his team selection for this weekend’s game the Corinthians manager also confirmed that first choice keeper Felipe will once again take the gloves for the season’s penultimate game against Flamengo. This will be welcome news to Flamengo’s rivals in the league title race who would be disappointed if Menezes put out anything less than his strongest XI for the game.
The Corinthians head coach explained his thinking for the goalkeeper’s position for the rest of the season.
"We play every game to win but it is important to have a look at all my players," Menezes said. "Rafael Santos will play against Nautico, Felipe will play against Flamengo and Julio Cesar will take on Atletico-MG."
"I have had long discussions with my goalkeeping coach and we feel it is important to give everybody a chance," Menezes added. "There is no substitute for the pressures of playing and we need to give all our goalkeepers the chance to improve."
Fred Has Revenge On His Mind Before Copa Sudamericana Final
Fluminense are in the mood for revenge after Liga De Quito set-up a replay of last season’s Copa Libertadores final for this year’s Copa Sudamericana final.
Last year it was Liga De Quito who came out on top after winning on penalties but now Fluminense have the chance to avenge that defeat and intend to take it. The Brazilian outfit’s star striker Fred is among those who are relishing the opportunity to get back at their Ecuadoran rivals.
"We will win this one for the fans, from the semi-finals it looked as though we would be meeting them again and now all the fans are talking about it," Fred said. "We will use last year’s result to strengthen us and there is definitely a climate of revenge surrounding the game."
Fluminense manager was an interested spectator of Liga De Quito’s triumph over River Plate of Montevideo and he gave his assessment of the match.
"Once Liga De Quito got their first goal they destabilised River Plate and went up to build up a huge score," Cuca said. "Liga De Quito are a strong team and they have earned their place in the final the same as us."
The first leg of the final will be played next Wednesday in Quito with the second leg a week later in the Maracana. This is the same order of last year’s Copa Libertadores final which the Ecuadorans won 3-1 on penalties after the two games saw the teams locked at 5-5 on aggregate.
Tim Sturtridge, Goal.com
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