Primera. Times have moved forward. Or rather, the results have perhaps moved forward. Cristian ElKily González faces a crucial match this Saturday in his cycle as coach of Unión. The duel against Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata at the Estadio 15 de Abril could mark a turning point in his continuity, in a context that has become unexpectedly tense for the red-and-white coach.
By Luis Fernández
Kily himself fueled the uncertainty with his statements after the defeat against Huracán. “I don’t set deadlines for anything, if I see that my players don’t respond to me I’ll leave, the situation is complicated, it’s a training process and we have to adapt, these situations happen to us, the day I see that my team plays horribly I’ll be the first to leave,” said the coach in a moment of sincerity.
However, what is seen on the field is a team with attitude, that fights every game and that shows no signs of having let go of its coach. The problem lies in the results and in a performance that does not appear, generating impatience in the fans and in the club’s environment.
The truth is that nobody at Unión expected this complicated start to the year. The management responded with great success in the transfer market, bringing in the reinforcements that the coach requested to strengthen a squad that will compete in the Copa Sudamericana in April. But what should have been a calm start, with time to get the team in shape, became an urgent situation. The patience of the fans ran out quickly, the times accelerated and the margin of error was reduced to a minimum.
The match against Gimnasia then becomes an early final. There is still more than a month to go until the start of the Sudamericana, but the pressure has already been installed. What will happen if Unión does not get a good result this Saturday? Will there be support or will a drastic decision be made? Only Kily knows how far he is willing to sustain this challenge.
Vélez seeks to renew Thiago Fernández’s contract
Although it may seem strange to say it, two months ago Vélez was crowned champion of Argentine soccer by being the team that added the most points in the last Professional League. A very different reality from the one it lives in this beginning of the 2025 Apertura Tournament, where in seven dates he did not win and did not score goals.
One of the high points in the conquest of the last championship was Thiago Fernández, who unfortunately suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the victory against Sarmiento at the beginning of December. Therefore, it is estimated that he will not return to the fields until at least August.
Beyond this, the Vélez leadership began negotiations with the attacker’s entourage to extend his contract, which expires at the end of this year. His last renewal was on 04/14/2023, shortly before his official debut against Colón in Santa Fe.
Regarding this issue, president Fabián Berlanga gave details in a chat with ESPN: “I speak permanently with Thiago. The final decision on his renewal is not up to us, he already has the contract offer that he asked for the last time we talked. He has the ball on his side. We are open to dialogue,” the manager confessed.
Independiente suffers a new inhibition due to a debt to Juan Cazares
Not all are good for Independiente. After the 2-0 victory against Instituto, which allows it to extend its unbeaten streak in the Libertadores de América-Ricardo Enrique Bochini to 17 games, the club received bad news that affects it financially: another inhibition.
The person involved in this economic conflict is Juan Cazares, who claims a debt of 570 thousand dollars since November 2023, which with interest (about 5%) amounts to 630 thousand dollars. Néstor Grindetti’s management will have to resolve this situation in order to strengthen the team in the next transfer market, since the ban on signings is indefinite.
This problem with Juanito arises at a key moment for the Rojo, who is seeking to stabilize his accounts after having settled the debts with Gastón Silva and Cecilio Domínguez. Although the amount owed is not high compared to other recent cases, the institution must ensure that it avoids new similar sanctions, such as the one that could arise from the debt with Fernando Gaibor.
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