Soccer coach wearing a blue and yellow cap giving instructions on a training field
ARGENTINA

Miguel Ángel Russo intensifies training sessions at Boca ahead of the second half of the season

With double training sessions and mandatory concentration, Boca's head coach seeks to relaunch the team for the Torneo Clausura and the Copa Argentina

Boca is going through days of self-criticism and deep restructuring after the tough elimination against Auckland City in the Club World Cup. Aware of the poor football moment, Miguel Ángel Russo decided to make a decisive change and take absolute control of the squad.

"I don't like being eliminated in the first round," stated the coach after the defeat, making it clear that the second half of the year allows no distractions if the goal is to become champion.

Since then, the Xeneize squad has been following a demanding routine: double daily training sessions at the Ezeiza complex, staying at the club's hotel, and a complete review of the group. The objective is clear: to restore intensity, discipline, and competitiveness to a team that appeared fragile in the last international tournament.

Soccer coach talking to Boca Juniors players during a practice at the training ground
Russo wants to regain intensity, discipline, and competitiveness | La Derecha Diario

Russo's new plan is based on three essential pillars: intense physical preparation to raise the level, group cohesion to strengthen mentality, and strict discipline to avoid distractions. Practices began on Wednesday under this format and will be repeated daily until the start of the Torneo Clausura, which begins in a few weeks.

While staying at the complex, the players are under the control of the coaching staff, who aim to relaunch Boca and leave behind the image left by their participation in the Club World Cup. The message is clear: more commitment and more work in a context with less margin for error.

The countdown to the Clausura

Xeneize's debut will be in the second week of July against Argentinos Juniors, and Russo wants to see a clear change in attitude and level of play from the very first match. Beyond the result, the coach aims to recover the competitiveness that Boca showed against opponents like Benfica and Bayern Munich, and move away from the apathetic version displayed against Auckland City.

Boca Juniors and Argentinos Juniors crests on blue and red backgrounds, respectively
Boca makes its debut in the Clausura against Argentinos | La Derecha Diario

It remains to be seen whether the new demanding regime will enable Boca to regain the solidity and character needed to become a contender again. What is clear is that, after the international setback, Russo opted for self-criticism and hard work as the path to a race-against-the-clock recovery.

➡️ Argentina

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