Boca Juniors coach Fernando Gago is facing decisive hours regarding his future after the Xeneize were eliminated in the Copa Libertadores Second Stage by Alianza Lima on Tuesday.

Although the coach stated in the post-match press conference that he still feels strong enough to continue, his future remains uncertain and could be decided after Friday’s match at La Bombonera against Rosario Central in the domestic league.

In a hard-fought match, which ended in a 2-1 victory for Boca but elimination in the penalty shootout after a 1-0 loss in Peru, the fans voiced their frustration by chanting, "Everyone must go, not a single one should stay!"

Since then, club president Juan Román Riquelme has held meetings with members of the Football Council and Gago himself. Following these discussions, it was decided that the coach will remain on the bench for Friday’s match, taking it "game by game," according to club sources.

"We all share this sadness. We must keep working and set new goals," said the former Real Madrid player, who took over as Boca coach on October 14 after a brief stint at Chivas in Mexico and a successful tenure at Racing Club.

These statements further frustrated the fanbase, who viewed the Copa Libertadores as the club’s main goal of the year, even above the Club World Cup.

A costly squad with no international competition

The Xeneize are currently third in Zone B of the Torneo Apertura in Argentina, though fans see it as a lesser goal compared to the dream of winning their seventh Libertadores title.

Beyond the results, supporters blame Gago for the team’s poor performances, as Boca has struggled to find its rhythm despite bringing in high-profile reinforcements in the latest transfer window.

Among the most notable signings are Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera, Chileans Carlos Palacios and Williams Alarcón, goalkeeper Agustín Marchesín, and midfielders Alan Velasco and Rodrigo Battaglia, among others.

Herrera, 35, performed well in Tuesday’s match before being substituted in the 75th minute.

Meanwhile, Marchesín has been criticized for requesting to be subbed out before the penalty shootout, while Velasco, who cost the club $10 million, was singled out as one of the main culprits for the elimination after missing the decisive penalty.

Without international competition, Boca Juniors now finds itself with a large and expensive squad, limited to competing in the Torneo Apertura, the Torneo Clausura, the Copa Argentina, and, later this year, the first edition of the Club World Cup.