⏳ Key hours at Boca! Riquelme's reaction | OneFootball

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

The president and idol of 'Xeneize' lived through the defeat by penalties against Alianza Lima from his box and this Wednesday, according to Argentine press, he meets with Fernando Gago to discuss his future.

Boca Juniors has suffered one of the toughest eliminations in their history, being defeated by penalties against Alianza Lima at La Bombonera in the second preliminary phase of the CONMEBOL Libertadores, a competition where Xeneize is one of the all-time champions.

Juan Román Riquelme, the current president and idol of the club, watched the match from his box alongside former players Mariano Herrón (reserve team coach) and Pablo Ledesma (academy coach), and remained in contact with the Football Council, but decided not to go directly to the locker room.

Less than 24 hours after that blow, Fernando Gago's team has to face a new training session because this Friday, February 28, they will face Rosario Central in the eighth round of the 2025 Opening Tournament of the Professional Football League (LPF).

In that context, according to Argentine journalist Daniel Retamozo, on the 'Más De Una Copa' program on DSPORTS Radio FM 103.1, Riquelme and Gago will have a face-to-face meeting this Wednesday before Boca's training session at the Ezeiza Predio.

Journalist Federico Cristofanelli from Infobae pointed out that "the board will analyze the coach's emotional state to resolve his continuity," so there would be no immediate changes. The contract with Gago ends in December 2026, and the current coach did not hint at the possibility of resigning from his position. Everything will be evaluated in the next few hours.

"It's a very hard blow. We had the illusion of continuing in the Copa Libertadores and worked for that. It hurts us all: the technical staff, the players, the fans. There is great sadness in the locker room. I feel 100% strong. The elimination hurts, but we have to do self-criticism and keep working," Gago said in the press conference after the match.

Riquelme has chosen not to make hasty decisions and will have a direct dialogue with the coach before evaluating the next steps. Gago has come under scrutiny, and Boca Juniors fans have expressed their fury against him and the management itself, but everything continues as usual despite the disappointment that reigns in the club.

📸 Marcelo Endelli - 2025 Getty Images