Universitario will have the difficult task of beating Alianza Atlético this Sunday, May 14 at the Campeones del 36 stadium, as the intense heat of the city of Sullana tends to complicate the conditions for teams not used to these scenarios . And it is that Jorge Fossati’s team continues to fight to win the Apertura tournament; However, for Carlos Galván, the former full-back, it will be “very difficult” for that to come about as Alianza Lima will feature in their last five games.
Both the Vendaval and Merengue teams will take to the pitch with a knife between their teeth looking for their respective targets as the former – after a string of poor results – is forced to take the 3 points against the ‘U’ . This time he will try, albeit without the technical direction of Carlos Desio, who has resigned in recent days. As if that wasn’t enough, Alianza Atlético forward Adrián Fernández will not be able to play due to card accumulation.
Universitario, in turn, are not giving up the fight for first place in the opening tournament, although today the position is occupied by the narrow side with a 5-point lead after beating Universidad Cesar Vallejo in Matute. It is for this reason that there is no margin for error for Jorge Fossati’s team, who have not experienced a defeat in the first division since taking over as technical director.
“It is very complicated”
Carlos Galván believes that the Apertura is already far from Universitario for the next matches he has to play, since he also has to visit the heights of Cajamarca and Huancayo, places where his former team always struggled.
“It’s very complicated for me. Very, very complicated. Alianza has the simplest game more than the ‘U’. The ‘U’, bad or good, has a game less, also has a duel in Huancayo, and it’s always here.” Cost Universitario,” says the former Cream captain.
Carlos Galván: “In terms of football, Universitario is better than Alianza”
On the other hand, Galván reiterates that the ‘U’ is a notch above the team of ‘Chicho’ Salas in football terms, as the Blue and Whites still find it difficult to ‘close the idea of the game’. Therefore, they always use the “individuality” of the players to determine the games.
“Alianza is a step further in the table, but if we talk about football, Universitario is much better, it’s more of a team. Alianza have good individualities that have paid off when it comes to defining a game, but I still don’t think that “I don’t see them abandoning the idea of the game. Fossati’s ‘U’ is a supportive team, you can see that on the pitch,” said the former national champion with Universitario in the 2009 season.
Reinforcement for the final tournament
Meanwhile, looking ahead, the ‘Negro’ Galván claims that Jorge Fossati and the management will have to opt for a reinforcement in central defense ahead of the Clausura tournament. And it is that those of Ate currently have backups “from midfield forward”, but they do not have permanent backups in central defense in case they leave the field – for various reasons – Williams Riveros or Matías Di Benedetto , regular central defender in the scheme of the Uruguayan DT.
“What centre-back or stopper can replace those who are making the headlines now? Except for Saravia who may be up to the task as Piero Guzmán has shown he’s still not up to the task. There is a bench from the centre-forward.” ; from the half-back, no,” says Galván.
The system failed at Compagnucci
Regarding the tenure that Carlos Compagnucci had as head of Universitario that year, the ex-Argentine footballer mentions that his compatriot’s poor results are due to the fact that the game system didn’t work for him and he didn’t have “the ideal players” for this tactical one system used either. . However, the work of Compagnucci’s fitness trainers deserves special mention, a result that today is reflected physically in Fossati’s squad.
“Compagnucci didn’t use the system and the ideal players for this tactical system, it seems to me. The coach has used players who might not have needed to be regulars at the time and as these were the first dates it was not yet apparent if they were 100% physically fit. This starts to become noticeable on the fifth or sixth day, which is when the player is released. (Now) Fossati’s fitness trainer has them very well, but we know that the good job was done by Compagnucci’s technical command,” he analyzes.
The meaning of swelling
Likewise, Carlos Galván highlights the commitment that merengue fans have always shown, as they flock to the Monumental and other sports venues to support the team through good times and bad. He admits that when things aren’t going well, the player will always want “the fan’s encouragement”.
“The fan is there to defend his team to the death. The player will deny you that, but he will always want the support of the fan when things aren’t going well, because then you have to feel that the fan is with you. It pulls you out from within so you don’t give up. I have always emphasized that. What I liked most about being on the pitch, apart from the rival in front of me, with all due respect, was “To see a full pitch. I miss that, the fans. The fans are everything.”
Galván did not miss the opportunity to say hello to all mothers who are fans of the “U” and Peruvian football on this special day. Undoubtedly, the work they show every day in different areas of daily life is outstanding.