Ascacíbar hails Superclásico win, would love to face River again | OneFootball

After playing his first Superclásico, Santiago Ascacíbar shared his feelings after beating River, admitted that he would love to face them again in the Torneo Apertura playoffs, highlighted the atmosphere in the locker room, and explained how his game evolved to reveal a goalscoring side that has little to do with the young player who debuted at Estudiantes.

“There’s still a way to go, we have to wait, but I’d love to have another match at whatever stage it may be,” Ascacíbar said on Radio La Red when asked about the chance of facing River again in a playoff round. Although it would take a catastrophe for it not to happen, Boca still has not officially qualified for the round of 16 of the Torneo Apertura. If that happens, once the regular phase ends, it will be determined which side of the bracket they are placed on according to their position in the standings and, therefore, at what stage they could meet again.

He then spoke about the feeling of having beaten El Millonario at the Monumental: “It’s a huge joy to know that everything is in order. Playing in a Superclásico, winning it, and in this way… fills you with happiness. Knowing that you make the whole week great for all the people supporting you is beautiful.”

He then referred to the positive atmosphere within a squad that is unbeaten in 13 matches: “A group takes shape and comes together over the months. We have to keep nurturing it. Obviously, we are ready to fight for very big things—that’s what I tell my teammates. We must never let our guard down or relax. We have to keep pushing. Something big is taking shape, I can see it.”

Ascacíbar adapted quickly to the demands that come with Boca, which he seems to understand perfectly. “The national spotlight is much bigger: everyone watches Boca. Whether you like it or not, you’re under pressure to be at your highest level. It’s one of the things that struck me the most. I had already heard about it, but then you have to go through it,” he explained.

In 14 matches wearing the Xeneize shirt, the Ruso has already scored three goals, a side of his game that emerged when he returned from his time in Europe. This is how he explained his transformation on the pitch: “In Germany they ask you to attack and defend, both sides of the game. That’s very common for them. Then I matured my understanding of the game, understanding when to do it, and I incorporated it.” Today, along with Miguel Merentiel, he is the one who benefits most from Leandro Paredes’ long passes and shows intelligent reading of the game, as he knows perfectly when to make a run and where to go, depending on the position of the ball and his teammates.

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