Nacional coach cautious despite Copa Libertadores win over Sporting Cristal: ‘There are still 90 minutes left’

Sports Crystal lost in its premiere Libertadores Cup 2023 2-0 against National of Paraguay and it was complicated in the search to qualify for the next instance of the international tournament. On the way back, to play in the national stadiumTHE ‘celestial’ they must win by three goals to be able to overthrow the touchline and both their coach, Tiago Nunesand references like Irven Avila there Alexander Hohberg They have already indicated that they will look to overcome the scene as locals.

In this sense, the Nacional strategist, Pierre Sarabiacelebrated the victory in the Defensores del Chaco, but was cautious in pointing out that the series is not closed and that it is still missing to be able to specify their classification in the third and final preliminary phase of the contest conmebol.

“It’s very important for us to win at home, we know there are 90 minutes left. Happy with what has been done, for the players, since they are the protagonists. We try to choose those we consider to be starters and it’s important to have won,” he told a press conference after the match.

“We knew in the second half we had to have a different reaction, we were local. We always talk and try to instill that a Copa Libertadores game at home has to be won and that’s what’s important. I’m very grateful to my players. We still have one game to play,” he said.

The former Paraguay footballer also indicated that his team has things to improve and for this reason they will avoid coming to Lima with an overconfidence that could harm their aspirations.

“I am not a conformist, we have things to improve. If we’re going out to say the game will be comfortable on Tuesday, we’re wrong. We will try to ensure that the team is orderly, vertical when it has to damage and we will give our lives, ”he said at another point in the press conference.

The return match between the Paraguayans and the Peruvians will take place next Tuesday, February 28 from 7:00 p.m. in Peru. Before this meeting, the two must play for their national tournament. Cristal will do it by visiting Binacionalwhile The Nacional will face Sportivo Ameliano.

Another of the Guarani cast members who spoke was the forward Roberto Mathias Martinez, author of the first goal of the match yesterday Tuesday, who expressed his satisfaction to have been able to score another goal in the Copa Libertadores. He also marked Sports Huancayo in Nacional’s 3-1 win.

“Happy at the moment, both individually and collectively. We work for that, we know that football is very dynamic. In a match, one moment it’s going and the next it’s not, you have to try to be constant and persevering,” he said at the same conference as his coach.

Like Sarabia, Martínez was cautious when discussing the second leg against Sporting Cristal, indicating that it would be a game of great complexity. “We have to take this moment very calmly, nothing is defined yet. There is one game left and we know it will be very difficult and we will all suffer together”.

“We have 30 players in the team with different characteristics. This game had to attack a bit more. Those who were supposed to start and those who came in the second half did very well. This goal in the last minutes reflects the concentration what we have and I hope that in the second leg we can still do well,” he concluded.