Zeballos: Russo talk turned my Boca story around, "He lifted me" | OneFootball

Exequiel Zeballos is experiencing his best moment since debuting for Boca. After shining in the Superclásico with a goal and an assist in the 2-0 win over River, Changuito revealed details of his conversation with Miguel Ángel Russo, which helped him change his course when everything indicated he would leave the club in search of more playing time: “He helped me lift my head.”

Zeballos, who was the standout player at La Bombonera in the Xeneize’s victory, shared how that meeting with Russo marked a turning point in his career: “Miguel is a very important person in my life; he was the one who gave me my debut. Winning the Superclásico and dedicating the victory to Miguel and his whole family was very important.”

The forward acknowledged that the conversation with the now-deceased coach came at a crucial moment. “It was a talk I’ll keep to myself, but it was very positive. From that point on, I had to lift my head. Not just the number five (Paredes), but all the guys gave me confidence, and we had to change the image,” he explained.

The native of Santiago del Estero also spoke about the impact of the support from captain Leandro Paredes and the team’s leaders: “I’m happy with everyone, especially with the number 5, who gave me a lot of confidence. It’s just about getting games, confidence, and having things go well. I thank the whole team for giving me the affection to get back to my level.”

Regarding his performance against River, Zeballos was self-critical but valued the team’s collective effort: “It was an extraordinary match from the whole team. That’s why we all played well, and thank God it worked out for me too.” And finally, he highlighted his commitment to the team’s playing style: “I feel really good. It’s what the coach asks of me, and I try to do it to the fullest—helping out defensively and contributing in attack.”

Changuito, who seemed close to leaving the club just a few months ago, is now living his great comeback: he has earned his place back at Boca, with Russo as his inspiration, Paredes as his support, and the Superclásico as the confirmation of his rebirth.

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