Juanito López: ‘One of the club’s toughest moments in 15, 16 years’ | OneFootball

Entrerriano journalist Juanito López spoke with Radio Gol 96.7 and described the critical institutional, financial, and sporting situation the Paraná club is going through. Ahead of the crucial clash next Saturday at 4:30 p.m. against Colón, the team led by Marcelo Candia arrives battered by a run of 10 matches without a win and significant wage delays within the squad.

An economy on red alert and a “chainsaw” in the youth ranks

López explained that the institution is going through one of its most delicate moments in the last 15 years. “It must be one of the club’s most critical moments in the last 15 or 16 years,” the journalist said about the reality of “Patrón”. After statements from goalkeeper and captain Alan Sosa, it was confirmed that the board owes money to the players. “The squad is one and a half months behind, not two months, as the goalkeeper said. While that may not be much in Argentine football… for Patronato it’s unusual, because it’s a club that usually pays on time”, López explained.

The crisis is so deep that the board plans to slash expenses drastically. “Many areas are being reviewed for the future to make cuts; as they say, the chainsaw is going to come down on Grella Street”, the reporter warned. One of the main flashpoints is the youth tournament because of the extremely high travel costs, around 10 million pesos per trip, playing against Federal A teams in what he called an “uneven equation”. As if that were not enough, on the institutional side, the club president is facing complex surgery in Buenos Aires. “Today the president is going to undergo open-heart surgery because of some heart-related issues… today in Buenos Aires, at Favaloro, that will be the biggest news regarding Patronato”, he revealed.

The curse of injuries and the lack of goals

On the strictly football side, the journalist stressed that Patronato is suffering an unusual streak of physical issues he described as “inexplicable.” The attacking duo made up of former Unión players Diego Armando Díaz and Franco Soldano has been struggling with a lack of finishing in front of goal. “Up front you’re going to find a Tatengue duo there with Diego Armando and Franco Soldano who don’t score, that’s the reality, but they create a lot of problems”, López analyzed.

Despite this, he remains hopeful about Díaz’s performances, a player with a street-football “aura.” “I had a very good feeling… he’s coming off an important individual play that ended in an assist… hopefully this match against Colón can also be special for him and help him raise his level”, the interviewee wished. The good news for the coach is the physical recovery of Brandon Cortés and Salas, two key pieces who had been dealing with discomfort but got minutes against Colegiales.

The possible starting eleven to step into the “Elephants’ Graveyard”

Despite the secrecy in training, the reporter put forward a likely lineup to face the Sabalero. “Look, it’s difficult because of what I was telling you about the injuries… the goalkeeper will be Sosa, the defense could have some changes at left-back… it would be Rueda, Díaz, Meritello and Genés; Pico will be the holding midfielder, Miró on the right, Valentín Pereira on the left”, he detailed. The main doubt is who will partner Pico in central midfield, while “up front, there’s no doubt, it will be Díaz and

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