Falcioni: Riquelme “wasn’t fit” but “thought he was indispensable” | OneFootball

After Boca's valuable victory over Independiente Rivadavia in Mendoza, which served to cut the worst losing streak in the club's history, the atmosphere in La Ribera was filled with a necessary relief. However, as is often the case in the Xeneize world, the calm is never absolute. In the midst of that respite, Julio César Falcioni once again brought up old conflicts, recalling what happened in 2012 before the Copa Libertadores final and also lashed out at Juan Román Riquelme, whom he did not regularly include in his team because he was "not in physical condition" to play.

The former coach directly targeted Juan Román Riquelme, pointing out that the idol was not in physical condition to play, but considered himself indispensable, which generated internal tensions. "We just wanted him to be well physically because he played well, and to be well to benefit the team, that was always our intention. Sometimes we were able to achieve it and sometimes not, another player played, like the time we were champions undefeated, he played very few games at the start of the tournament”.

Falcioni did not regularly put Román.

In the same vein, the former coach delved deeper into Riquelme: “He was not in condition, he was injured, he was not in condition and the team was working. Sometimes you think you're indispensable, but sometimes you leave, another player comes in and does the same or better than you”. Also, in dialogue with Dupla Técnica, he recalled the episode with Facundo Roncaglia, who did not play the decisive match due to contractual differences, adding another chapter to a story loaded with disagreements in one of the most important moments of the club.

Falcioni placed blame on what happened with Riquelme and Roncaglia

The technical director recalled that, before the decisive match, the management led by Daniel Angelici decided to sideline Roncaglia from the squad for not having resolved the insurance on his contract. Although the defender was not going to play, his teammates demanded that he at least be able to accompany them in the concentration. “That communion was abnormal before a final”, Falcioni commented, highlighting the emotional impact that situation had on the group.

Boca fell in the final against Corinthians.

The strategist also emphasized that Román's departure from the club was leaked, something his brother Sebastián did on social media, generating a climate of uncertainty and tension. “We were at the door, we reached the final. We drew at home (1-1 in La Bombonera), we deserved to win it, and then we lost in San Pablo (2-0 in the Pacaembú). Things happened that shouldn't have happened before a final”, Falcioni lamented, ensuring that the tense atmosphere ended up affecting the team's performance and marking the farewell of the idol.

Also read:

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“To continue on this path”: Leandro Paredes, in agreement with the team after the thrashing

The scores of Boca vs Independiente Rivadavia

Boca thrashed Independiente Rivadavia and returns to the Libertadores qualification zone

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.