Racing secrets revealed: strengths, weaknesses, ‘mad’ manager

In partnership with

Coluna do Fla

·21 October 2025

Racing secrets revealed: strengths, weaknesses, ‘mad’ manager

Nicolás Montalá, from ‘Olé’ newspaper and the ‘Racing na Alma’ portal, spoke exclusively to Coluna do Fla

The time is coming, Nation! Flamengo and Racing (ARG) are about to battle for a spot in the final of the Copa Libertadores da América next Wednesday (22), at Maracanã. To better understand how the Avellaneda club plays, Coluna do Fla had an exclusive chat with Nicolás Montalá, an Argentine journalist who covers the team for Diario ‘Olé’ and the site ‘Racing na Alma’.

The beat reporter revealed all the team’s secrets: favorite tactical schemes, strengths and weaknesses, what Argentines know about Flamengo, and much more. However, in Nicolás’s view, Racing’s coach deserves a chapter of his own: Gustavo Costas, a ‘fanatic’ supporter and a great motivator for the squad.

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WHO IS GUSTAVO COSTAS?

A former Racing player, Costas is leading his beloved team for the third time. On the sidelines, the coach stands out for his energetic style, pushing the team forward. In the interview with Coluna do Fla, Nicolás explained just how huge the coach is in the club’s history.

— Costas is an idol, a symbol of Racing. This is his third spell as coach. As a player, he won the 1988 Supercopa, beating Cruzeiro in the final. He is Racing through and through, Costas is Racing. He is the most fanatical and passionate coach to have ever been at Racing. I don’t know another coach who, besides having this passion for the colors, transmits it so much, who holds nothing back, who tells everything, who lives it as a fan, as what he is, and he is the heart of Racing — Nicolás began. — He is the fan that every supporter has inside, he represents the Racing fan very well, very passionate. He is very important emotionally for the squad, fundamental on a mental level. He has instilled a winning mentality in all the players, he is very well liked by the squad and that has created a strong commitment to him from his players. Very motivating, very close to the players, he transmits and spreads that fervor with which he lives the games, the training, everything that is Racing — the journalist added. — Costas is fundamental for this growth of Racing on an international level. Fundamental, fundamental, and he is Racing’s great hope, and it is placed on Gustavo Costas. The star of the team is Maravilla Martínez, the top scorer, one of the best strikers on the continent, a player with a tremendous nose for goal who never misses when he gets a chance, and he is the player most relied upon — he emphasized.

WHAT ARE RACING’S STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES?

In summary, during the conversation with Coluna do Fla, Nicolás gave a warning that Flamengo should pay attention to. After struggling in the quarterfinals with Estudiantes’ (ARG) high balls to striker Guido Carrillo, Racing plays in a similar way: long balls to Maravilla Martínez, the top scorer of the Libertadores with seven goals.

— The attacking power they have with Maravilla Martínez, the aggressiveness they play with. It’s a very physical team, very intense, very eager to win the ball back. Above all, their character, their winning mentality for South American or Libertadores matches. For international tournaments, it’s a very strong team mentally, very confident, that doesn’t need to create many chances to score — he explained.

— That’s the strong point, the winning mentality that Costas has instilled in Racing, winners of the 24 Sudamericana and the 25 Recopa. Racing did very well against Brazilian rivals, eliminated them all, including the Recopa (Botafogo), the final (of the Sudamericana) with Cruzeiro, Sudamericana matches, Athletico Paranaense, Corinthians, eliminated them all. That also gives them a lot of confidence, emotionally — he detailed.

AND WHAT ABOUT RACING’S WEAKNESS?

— As for weaknesses, in recent matches they have given up many chances to their opponents, their goalkeepers have made important saves. Today, the starter is Facundo Cambeses, who is in great form, and recently debuted for the Argentine National Team against Puerto Rico. He is a key player, one of those who holds the team together. At the back (behind the full-backs), they have left spaces and have had some problems from midfield back when attacked. And that has been an issue — Nicolás commented.

— Today, the biggest problem is that many players will come in without match rhythm. Several injured players, lacking game time, almost all starters. Racing will need luck to have Gabriel Rojas, who is doubtful. But Franco Pardo and Elías Torres are already out. Pardo is a starter. The other starters will be there, but with little game rhythm. Sometimes, Racing is a team that abuses the vertical game, plays long balls and loses possession a lot when it overuses this style — he recalled.

TAKING NOTES, FILIPE LUÍS?

Racing’s favorite formation at the moment is with a lone striker up front, in this case, Maravilla Martínez. However, the team can vary with a three-man defensive line and also three up front, crowding the midfield.

— The favorite formation lately is 4-1-4-1. They can play with a back three, 3-4-3, but for a while now it’s been 4-1-4-1. With Santiago Sosa ahead of the defenders. Sometimes, he drops back to join the center-backs and makes the first pass. They play a lot down the flanks, which is key for the team. The play with Gabriel Rojas on the left and with Facundo Mura or Martirena on the right. And the presence of Maravilla Martínez as the reference point — he said.

— Be it with Mura, Martirena, or Solari. On the right and left, getting into scoring positions a lot. That’s Racing’s system, with this particularity: they attack a lot down the wings and have been using a 4-1-4-1 lately. It’s a very vertical, very direct team, that doesn’t need much possession to cause damage. They attack the space a lot, very quickly — he explained.

WHAT WERE THE OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INTERVIEW?

WHAT DO THEY KNOW ABOUT FLAMENGO?

“Flamengo is considered one of the best teams. In Avellaneda, they are highly respected, also across the continent, with a squad of enormous quality. We are very attentive here to everything Flamengo is doing in the Brasileirão, that they are winning, that they just thrashed Botafogo 3-0. That they have Agustin Rossi, who is very good at penalties. They are also keeping an eye on the sanction, the fine that was applied to Bruno Henrique. A lot of respect for Flamengo, but with the confidence of past results, since Racing has already beaten almost all the Brazilian teams they have faced. Their last visit to Rio de Janeiro was precisely against Botafogo, when they won the Recopa. It gives Racing fans confidence to know they have done very well against Brazilian teams, because Racing perhaps makes up for their inferiority against Brazilian teams with character, authority, and the temperament that Argentine teams usually play with.”

WOULD A DRAW AT MARACANÃ FEEL LIKE A MARACANAZO?

“For Racing, a Maracanazo would be to win the game, as already happened in a penalty shootout with Sebastián Beccacece as coach. Libertadores 2020, which they won on penalties. But for a Maracanazo, it would be to win the match. That’s the inspiration, it’s a very winning team, they are not satisfied with a draw.”

BESIDES MARTÍNEZ, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE FLAMENGO SHOULD WATCH OUT FOR?

“Besides that, Santiago Sosa is also important, after Maravilla Martínez, he is the central midfielder who controls the tempo. I think that against Flamengo it’s not a team that defends, it’s not a team that is prepared to sit back, to defend close to their own goal. Yes, maybe at times they will drop back, but it’s not a team set up to sit back, it’s a team that attacks all over the pitch, on all sides, seeks to take the initiative, it’s not prepared for an overly cautious approach, maybe just occasionally.”

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