Ávalos and Valdéz miss out for Independiente v Racing | OneFootball

Gustavo Quinteros was introduced as Independiente's coach this Monday at noon and already had to face the first problem: he will not be able to count on Gabriel Ávalos or Sebastián Valdéz for the classic against Racing next Sunday, in his debut with the club.

El Rojo is going through turbulent days following the departure of Julio Vaccari, which is why the management moved quickly and secured the arrival of the coach, who was champion with Vélez in 2024, in record time. However, he will not have an easy start because the team is coming off a poor draw against San Lorenzo, in which they did not shoot on goal, remain last in the standings, and now face the Avellaneda classic with two significant absences that further complicate his debut. Both the defender and the forward suffered muscle injuries and are practically ruled out.

In defense, the first option to replace Valdéz would be Franco Paredes, who came in for him and delivered a solid performance. In the offense, the alternatives are Ignacio Pussetto, who has not been showing a good level since his arrival at the red side of Avellaneda, or betting on Matías Abaldo as a false 9, as the team has used him in some recent stretches.

Quinteros will work with his trusted coaching staff: Maxi Quesada, Leandro “Chavo” Desábato, his son Rodrigo Quinteros, and physical trainer Hugo Roldán. The goalkeeping coach is yet to be decided, with the possibility of Damián Albil rejoining, as he has previously worked at the club.

The official presentation marked the beginning of a new era for El Rojo. Between the urgent need to earn points and the immediate challenge of the classic against Racing, Quinteros will debut with a tough challenge: a team last in the standings, two significant absences, and the demand to restore El Rojo's identity.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.