Arruabarrena praised Boca’s performance and called for keeping their feet on the ground
After the 1-1 draw at the Morumbí and qualification for the Copa Sudamericana semifinals, Boca’s coach highlighted his team’s performance and stressed that the tie was played with a final-like mentality. Xeneize remains strong on the international stage and continues its fight on the other fronts this year.
Boca took another step in the Copa Sudamericana and the internal assessment brought satisfaction, but also caution. After the 1-1 draw against San Pablo at the Morumbí, a result that sealed the 2-1 aggregate win and qualification for the semifinals, Rodolfo Arruabarrena praised the team’s response and delivered a message of prudence for what comes next.
A qualification that reinforces the coaching staff’s idea
Xeneize got through a demanding tie in one of the toughest venues on the continent. In Brazil, Arruabarrena’s side found the equalizer through Leandro Lozano, 15 minutes into the second half, and held on until the end after the home side levelled through Domingos Duarte in the 44th minute of the second half.
The qualification came with extra value: Boca not only advanced, but did so by leaving a competitive impression away from home. The coach made that point clear, pleased with what the team showed in San Pablo.
Rodolfo Arruabarrena: “We played a very serious match”.
The message: stay focused on what’s next and don’t lose sight of the task
Beyond the celebration over the advancement, the coach also chose to apply the necessary brakes. At a stage of the season in which Boca is still competing on several fronts, the coaching staff is looking to avoid any relaxation.
Rodolfo Arruabarrena: “They are all finals for us”.
That view fits the club’s current situation: Boca are already among the four best in the continental tournament, remain alive in the Copa Argentina and are also battling domestically. In that context, the idea is to maintain the level without losing perspective, something the coach himself made clear by calling for feet to remain on the ground.
What the clash with San Pablo leaves behind
- Boca showed they can compete on a demanding pitch like the Morumbí.
- The team preserved the lead earned in the first leg and took the tie 2-1.
- There was a contribution from decisive players at key moments, such as Leandro Lozano’s goal.
- The collective response appeared again in a high-pressure match.
In addition, there was a locker-room view that matched the coach’s. Leandro Paredes had described the qualification as a “test of maturity” and said the goal is to fight on all fronts, an idea that has helped shape the club’s internal mood after reaching the semifinals.
Vasco da Gama, the next challenge
Boca’s opponent in the next round will be Vasco da Gama, a side that arrives in the semifinals with a mixed campaign: they struggled in the group stage, but grew stronger in one-on-one ties. For the Argentine team, the challenge will be to sustain the blend of solidity and composure that allowed them to come through in Brazil.
In a year-end run that could be historic, Boca have already secured their place in a major international competition for a little longer. With the coaching staff aligned in its message and the squad focused on each front, the immediate objective is clear: compete without straying from the plan.
