Boca Juniors' 1-0 defeat to Alianza Lima in the Copa Libertadores left a troubling image. However, what stood out the most was Fernando Gago's fury towards Exequiel Zeballos. During the second half, the coach didn’t hesitate to show his frustration with the young attacker, who came on as a substitute. In a key play at the 18th minute, Zeballos failed to support Milton Giménez in pressing an opponent, and visibly angry, Gago yelled: “Start running or I’ll take you off the damn field!” The intense reprimand was caught on camera and quickly became a topic of discussion.

Gago's Frustration and Zeballos' Attitude

Gago, annoyed by his player’s lack of intensity, didn’t hide his anger. Despite being near the bench, Zeballos stayed in position on the field and continued playing until the final whistle. The image of the reprimand reflected the tension of a match where Boca Juniors failed to make an impact. Gago’s words were clear: his team's, especially Zeballos', attitude was not up to the standards he expected.

Match Development and Gago's Statements

As for the match, Boca Juniors struggled from the start, allowing Alianza Lima to take control from the first minute. In the 4th minute, a defensive error by Xeneize allowed Ceppellini to score for the Peruvians, who dominated much of the first half. Despite the pressure from the local fans, Alianza Lima couldn’t extend their lead, but Agustín Marchesín had to make several key saves to keep the score from being more lopsided.

In the second half, Gago tried to react by making offensive substitutions, bringing on Zeballos and Lucas Janson, but the team continued to lack depth and clarity in the final third. Boca Juniors had possession but couldn’t generate any dangerous plays. Zeballos' failure to press in a crucial moment was just one of many shortcomings the team showed, as they never recovered from the deficit and ended up losing 1-0.

Gago's Words After the Defeat

After the defeat, Gago analyzed his team's performance and didn’t hide his frustration. “They scored on us very quickly, and we struggled to create clear chances. We lacked effectiveness,” the coach commented. Despite acknowledging his team’s mistakes, Gago remained confident in Boca Juniors' ability to turn things around in the return leg. “We know what we have to do. We have to improve, and we will work to win at La Bombonera,” he assured.

Gago also highlighted the key absences that affected the team, such as Edinson Cavani, Ayrton Costa, and Ander Herrera. Despite these setbacks, Gago was optimistic about some players potentially returning for the second leg. “I hope some of them can be available. We’ll see how they progress,” he explained.

Finally, Gago sent a message to the fans, asking for calm and trust. “To the fans, I say trust us. We’ll work hard to qualify,” he concluded, knowing that the defeat left the team with the obligation to get a positive result at home.