Estudiantes secrets revealed: strengths, weaknesses, no fear of Flamengo | OneFootball

Gonzalo Plotycia, journalist from La Plata, spoke exclusively with Coluna do Fla

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Estudiantes (ARG)? How does coach Eduardo Domínguez's team like to play? What do they know about Flamengo in La Plata? These and other questions were answered by journalist Gonzalo Plotycia, from the land of Mengão's opponent in the Copa Libertadores over the next two Thursdays (18 and 25). The reporter from Radio 'La Red' provided a true 'X-ray' of the team in the quarter-finals of the continental tournament.

Despite the economic difference between the two teams, Estudiantes does not fear Flamengo, at least that's Gonzalo Plotycia's view. Furthermore, the journalist emphasizes that the club from La Plata is a four-time champion of the Libertadores and deserves respect. When asked if a draw or a narrow defeat in Rio de Janeiro would already be a 'Maracanazo', the reporter denied it.

— Given Estudiantes' history, winning at Maracanã would not be a Maracanazo, because Estudiantes has a lot of trajectory and renown in South American football. A Maracanazo, in any case, would be a historic thrashing, given the power of the team ahead. I believe that Estudiantes' history would not be labeled as a Maracanazo, neither in La Plata, nor for the Argentine press. I understand that Estudiantes will also seek to play a long game, a 180-minute series, taking advantage of closing at home —, highlighted the journalist.

WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF ESTUDIANTES?

In the Libertadores, Estudiantes finished first in Group A, the same as Botafogo, with 12 points. In the campaign, there were four wins and two losses. In the round of 16, the Argentines eliminated Cerro Porteño (PAR), with a 1-0 win in Paraguay and a goalless draw in La Plata. Throughout the competition, they scored 12 goals and conceded five. According to Plotycia, the secret to the team's good campaign is the long-term work of coach Eduardo Domínguez.

— Estudiantes is a team that has been working with the same idea for some time with Eduardo Domínguez, who has been the coach since March 2023. In this process, with ups and downs in the game, they reached their peak with three titles: Copa Argentina 2023, which also marked the end of a cycle for some historic players, Copa de la Liga 2024, and finally, the Supercopa 2024 against Vélez —, he noted.

— These seem to be the main strengths. The consolidated work time with the same coach and the same idea, in addition to the change of players. Above all, I would add that, for the Copa Libertadores, there is an extra. Estudiantes is a team with a lot of tradition in cups, especially in the Copa Libertadores, one of the biggest winners. And they face these types of matches with a different temperament, historically, and I believe that often it is an extra for these types of competitions —, added the journalist.

AND THE WEAKNESSES?

— Irregularity. It struggles to sustain, for example, what it does in the Copa Libertadores in the Argentine Championship. In fact, it played against it in previous tournaments, where despite having one of the best squads in Argentine football, it could not maintain continuity in the championship. It ended up qualifying for the playoffs but was eliminated early. It is also one of the goals of the squad, the technical staff, and although today it is in qualifying positions, it comes from losing a game that on paper was not planned to lose, to Central Córdoba, one of the most modest teams in Argentina. It cannot achieve that regularity in the championship, showing, I would say, two faces (editor's note: the interview was conducted on Friday, 12, before Estudiantes' defeat to River on Saturday, 13) —, emphasized Plotycia.

WHAT DO THEY KNOW ABOUT FLAMENGO IN LA PLATA?

In La Plata, the most well-known names in the Flamengo squad are, of course, those with experience in Argentine football. Highlight for goalkeeper Agustín Rossi, who played for the club early in his career, in 2015 and 2016. Additionally, Plotycia highlighted some Mengão players who played in Europe.

— There is a lot of respect for Flamengo, it is known that today Argentine football cannot compete economically. There is a big difference with Brazilian teams, but Estudiantes, given how they approach these games, obviously respects their opponents but understands they can be on par. I am talking a lot about the economic or power difference between one league and another, also in respect to what happened in the Club World Cup, so there is a lot of respect for the Flamengo squad —, he commented.

— The most well-known are those who played in Argentine football, Rossi, defended Estudiantes, in fact, a very young Rossi. De La Cruz at River, well, obviously, Jorge Carrascal (ex-River); Giorgian Arrascaeta, obviously a player who is highly respected for his performance with the Uruguayan national team. Saúl, for his time in Europe. There are a lot of players… Gonzalo Plata, Ecuadorian. There is a lot of respect for this Flamengo squad —, concluded the Argentine journalist, after all.

WHAT ELSE DOES ESTUDIANTES HAVE?

Flamengo and Estudiantes begin to decide a spot in the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores da América this Thursday (18), at Maracanã. The match kicks off at 9:30 PM (Brasília time), with full coverage by Coluna do Fla. Check below for the rest of Gonzalo Plotycia's responses to our report.

HOW DOES ESTUDIANTES PLAY?

“It is a team that strengthens with ball possession, basically playing around possession, it is not a team that speculates, it's not in coach Domínguez's DNA. Usually, the formation tends to be a 4-3-3, some of these wingers can move back and form a 4-3-1-2. Usually, they play with a line of four, they have played with lines of five, but mainly they do it with a line of four in defense. They have midfielders with good feet, who break free and advance to attack, who invade the area, with finishing; wingers who are fast and sharp on the sides and generally play with a reference center forward, although they like them to get involved in the game. Know that this is the central characteristic of Domínguez's teams”.

WHAT'S THE ATMOSPHERE IN LA PLATA FOR THE GAME?

WHO ARE THE TEAM'S HIGHLIGHTS?

DIDN'T DO SO WELL IN THE ROUND OF 16 AGAINST CERRO PORTEÑO?

“Estudiantes played a 180-minute series, did an intelligent job, they were not bothered, they were not suffocated in Paraguay, found victory at the end with the usual expertise of Carrillo, who is also one of their figures. And with a young, a juvenile, who is emerging, breaking through in a great way, which is Míkel Amondarain. He provided the assist. Estudiantes did not have major scares also in the return game, in the decision in La Plata. The opponent was a weak team, I would say in general terms of Cerro Porteño. Estudiantes was a broad deserving, it seems to me, to advance”.

CAN MONEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

“There are many economic differences between what is distributed in prizes in the organization of Argentine football compared to Brazilian, there is a fight, a dispute there, especially many clubs that criticize the president of the AFA (Argentine Federation), Chiqui Tapia, Claudio Tapia. A bit in this dispute is Verón (president of Estudiantes), proposing other sports models. In Argentina, I won't say that the anonymous society is a bad word, to what may be more inserted in Brazil, the SAD, the Sports Anonymous Society, but there is a lot of fear with that, it generates friction among the fans. Estudiantes has been talking about a mixed model, not privatizing the club, but implementing a mixed model to try to make an economic qualitative leap, well, in this dispute is Estudiantes and a bit. Sometimes these issues are highlighted”.

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