Two men appear in the image, one wearing a black sweater in a stadium full of people and the other wearing a blue jacket with yellow details and the Boca Juniors crest in an indoor setting with trophies in the background.
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Battaglia targeted Riquelme and Boca: 'The approach could have been different'

The former Xeneize coach criticized the Football Council and confirmed one of the most popular rumors about his departure from Xeneize

The departure of Sebastián Battaglia from Boca in 2022 left a mark due to the unusual nature of the episode: he was dismissed at a gas station. Although it was never fully confirmed, more than two years after that moment, the former coach addressed the topic again in an interview with Los Edul and did not hesitate to criticize the club's management, led by Juan Román Riquelme.

Sebastián Battaglia y su despido de Boca en una estación de servicio

"Was it real? Yes, it was, I have no reason to hide it. It was real," Battaglia confirmed when asked about the story that at the time made headlines in all sports media.

The former central midfielder, who took over as head coach from the Reserve in August 2021, compared his case to that of Martín Demichelis at River: "I would've liked to leave the way Demichelis did, which can be debated whether it was right or wrong, but he was bid farewell by the entire stadium in his last match," he expressed with a certain resignation. He concluded: "They removed us as if we'd been the villains of the story."

Battaglia's dismissal occurred after the elimination in the round of 16 of the 2022 Copa Libertadores against Corinthians, and following statements in which he complained about the lack of reinforcements.

Boca Juniors players with expressions of disappointment on the field after a match
Battaglia was dismissed after the defeat to Corinthians in 2022 | La Derecha Diario

According to his own account, the Football Council summoned him to communicate the decision in a completely unexpected place: "I was coming back from training in Ezeiza and that's when I got a call telling me we'd meet there," he recounted about the day he was summoned to a gas station.

"When they want to hire you, they treat you in the best way. Now, when the opposite happens... The approach could've been different," he stated.

Several people in sportswear are talking and waiting while seated in an airport lounge, some with suitcases and backpacks.
Battaglia believes that it could have been solved differently | La Derecha Diario

Battaglia's numbers at Boca

During his tenure as Boca's head coach, Battaglia managed 66 matches, with 32 wins, 23 draws, and 11 losses. Despite certain ups and downs, he managed to win two titles: the 2021 Copa Argentina and the 2022 Copa de la Liga. Today, his departure continues to generate controversy more because of the manner than the results.

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