Between sporadic praise and constant criticism, Luis Advíncula And Carlos Zambrano Over the course of their time, they went through intense and contradictory phases Boca Juniors. His performances divided fans and the press, and today, by far, Martin Liberman examines what the Peruvians really meant to the club and why their presence was characterized by the constant tension between recognition and non-conformity.
Beyond individual performance, the Argentine journalist focuses on the competitive environment that the ‘xeneize’ in recent years. He points out that although both Peruvian footballers have international careers and proven themselves, they arrived at a time when the club failed to win relevant titles. Under this premise, he proposes a counterfactual theory: in Carlos Bianchi’s team, he asserts, ‘bolt’ and the ‘Emperor’ would have been more noticeable.
In this interview for Infobae PeruLiberman also examines the difficult moment of Peruvian football, from the crisis of the national team’s results to the national team’s management mistakes Peruvian Football Federation (FPF)especially the departure of Ricardo Gareca. For the communicator, the present is complex and the immediate future does not appear encouraging, although he does not rule out that a new competitive cycle could begin with a profound renewal.
– There is a lot of talk in the Boca world about the departure of Luis Advíncula. Do you think your cycle is already over?
Yes, it ended a while ago.
– He was Boca’s figure to reach the final of the Libertadores in 2023. Did he leave any mark on the club?
I don’t know. Nolberto Solano left his mark, Julio Meléndez left his mark. I don’t think Advíncula left it. I think he was a good player, a good winger. It seems too much to say that he left his mark. He didn’t win anything important. Those players who leave the club an important trophy, a relevant trophy, leave their mark. This is a collective sport, it’s not Advínculas’ fault that Boca didn’t win anything relevant. But no, I don’t think a player who hasn’t been involved in an outstanding title in the history of the institution has left his mark.
-How do you define Carlos Zambrano’s time at Boca Juniors? Would you say it was one of Boca’s worst signings?
No, I would never say that. I’m not the one to classify it as worse, better, good or bad. I didn’t like how Zambrano played at Boca, nothing more. One day I was arguing with his brother who was representing him. He got angry because I criticized him and I completely understand because he is his brother. But for me, Zambrano’s move to Boca was an inconsequential move. It wasn’t noticeable. And I’m not saying he’s a bad player, but in Boca I never saw anything really important, relevant, amazing or eye-catching… he didn’t achieve it. If you compare, for example, with Jorge Bermúdez or some central defenders from other countries today, there is no point of comparison. But I also have to say in favor of Zambrano and, for example, Advíncula, that they were not in Boca’s best era. Perhaps Zambrano and Advíncula, inserted into Bianchi’s Boca, would have been very outstanding players. They had a different era and had to be part of teams that were never able to make a leap in quality, that didn’t win anything important.. Certainly we would be having a different story and a different conversation if Zambrano had been the 2nd and Advíncula the 4th Boca Champion of America. Although in my opinion Advíncula can do nothing next to Hugo Ibarra and Zambrano, nothing next to Jorge Bermúdez.
– Would you have fit well into this team?
Yes, they are good. I won’t say they are bad players. Guys who have been playing football for good teams for fifteen years and playing for their national team for more than a decade. I have great respect for the footballer’s conditions. I don’t think any footballer comes by chance, let alone plays for his national team by chance, let alone gets transferred to Europe by chance. There are better and worse players. And for me, Advíncula and Zambrano are not among the most outstanding players in the history of Argentine football, which does not mean that they are bad, quite the opposite.. For me, Advíncula is much better than Zambrano during his time in Boca.
– Essentially because of what the Copa Libertadores 2023 did…
Yes, that’s fine, he’s immediately sent off a minute into the game, setting Boca up for elimination from a cup. I won’t say anything I don’t feel. For me there will be steps that will not be remembered very much, among other thingsSomething more than Advíncula’s, because of the patch he puts on his nose, because of his strength, because of his physical performance…not much more.
– From your perspective, do you think there are big or only traditional teams in Peru?
I can’t remotely speak about who is tall and who is short. Here in Argentina I have heard about Universitario, Alianza Lima and Sporting Cristal since I was a child. That’s the truth. Another thing is when you become a journalist and you know a lot more, learn a lot more, meet more teams and talk about Peruvian football every day. But how come there aren’t great teams? Of course there are some. They are big in Peru and internationally too. Any team that pushes boundaries is great for me.
– Your compatriot Hernán Barcos has received great recognition in Peru. What do you think of his international validity and his fulfillment at 41 years old at Alianza Lima?
I can’t say much about Barcos as I’m supposed to watch Peruvian football every weekend. I’m not in a position to give a real opinion. Don’t think my life will end with football, I won’t stay at home to watch all the games. So it’s not like I can give you an opinion on Barcos as I’ve watched him ten games this year. It’s very difficult.
– It was noticed in La Bombonera…
Yes, he was noticed and showed validity and I’ve seen a few performances from him, but I’m not in a position to give an opinion on that. I don’t think about what I don’t see, I mean it.
– Do you see a quick resurgence of the Peruvian team after the disastrous qualifier for the 2026 World Cup?
The truth is no. I don’t see a quick resurgence. For me it is suffering a lot, just like Chile, and it is not only the change of coaches but also the lack that exists below, in those who come to renew the old generations. I don’t think it will be easy for you. Look, you have to play badly to stay in the ten, this year there were seven. There were seven. Let’s imagine that Venezuela, Peru and Chile are eighth, ninth and tenth out of ten. I think that alone describes today. You don’t need much opinion. I don’t know what would have happened if I had changed the coach beforehand, because in the end the team’s image improved, but there needs to be a very deep renewal in the squad. I think you have to think in eight years, not four.
– Would the story have been different with Ricardo Gareca as coach?
This is counterfactual. I have no idea, I don’t know. What I know is this It was a terrible decision by the Peruvian Football Federation to offer Gareca to take over with a reduction in his contract and cause him to leave. It was without a doubt the worst decision Lozano could have made. He is certainly one of those responsible for what happened in Peru, because he was wrong, he was wrong. I spoke to Gareca, they offered to further reduce his contract. How are you going to terminate the contract of a man who took you to one World Cup and was about to take you to another? No… it’s unusual. On top of that, he made bad decisions afterwards. The path was… I don’t say infallible, but it was very likely. In the end it was like that. You have to be a bad team to finish ninth out of ten.
– Why do you think Gareca didn’t do well against Chile?
I don’t know Gareca’s work in detail. He fought with Vidal, he had a lot of difficulties and Chile doesn’t have that many players. Something similar happened in Peru. Don’t forget that Argentina completely failed at the 2018 World Cup. Many footballers had to stop playing and a new generation came. The problem is when there are no players showing up. In my opinion this is the case with Chile and Peru.
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