The former Boca head coach described his differences with the current president, analyzed the team's current situation, and left the door open to taking on another role at the heart of the club in the future
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Sebastián Battaglia once again spoke about his departure from Boca and distanced himself from Juan Román Riquelme. When he was asked about the possibility of working again with the current president of the club, the former Xeneize coach was categorical:"No".
However, he left the door open to a return to the institution, although he ruled out that it would be as a coach. "I don't want to say the proposal that I have because there is a lot of time left, but it won't be to coach", he anticipated.
Almost four years after his memorable dismissal at a gas station, which took place after the elimination against Corinthians in the round of 16 of the 2022 Copa Libertadores and amid strong differences with the board, the former midfielder recalled in a conversation with Picado TV that "the process was difficult for a lot of reasons". He added:"Four years have gone by and Boca still has the same problems, it doesn't manage to stabilize".
Battaglia explained that during his tenure he held soccer-related conversations, mainly with the Soccer Council. "I had my convictions, my points of view and I stated them. There were soccer-related talks, not so much with Román, but with the guys from the Council. The talks were always there. That is how it is and they are part of the institution", he pointed out.
Battaglia no volvió a hablar con Riquelme
Regarding his current relationship with Riquelme, he was clear:"I haven't spoken with him again. I only went to his farewell because I thought it was the right thing to do. Out of respect, because he was at mine when I invited him. One has to separate things".
Battaglia's opinion on Boca's current level
Regarding the team's present, which is coming off a 2-1 loss to Vélez in Liniers and is dragging inconsistent performances, Battaglia analyzed:"It doesn't quite manage to be a stable team or one that conveys confidence when it comes to playing a match. Although in home matches it ends up winning because of what Boca is and what it means to play at La Bombonera, the inconsistency makes everything come into question".
The former coach emphasized that this issue is not new and that he even perceived it during his time in charge of the squad. "There were moments when it was hard for us to impose ourselves as visitors. Then we ended up winning the championship and there was that memorable Copa Libertadores match, but at that time the team was growing", he recalled.
He also gave his opinion on the meeting that Riquelme held with Claudio Úbeda's coaching staff and team leaders after the latest defeat. "We are talking about a different president. He played soccer, he has experience in group management because he has been in a locker room and in different situations, winning or losing", he stated
"There are moments when one can talk and moments that must be purely private. When he has things to say, as has happened on other occasions because history keeps repeating itself, I don't see it as a bad thing", he added.
