Sampaoli to stay in charge at Talleres after talks with president | OneFootball

Jorge Sampaoli is going through one of his most critical moments in Argentine football, but he has no intention of stepping aside. Despite the tough 3-1 defeat in Mendoza against Gimnasia and the tense atmosphere surrounding Talleres de Córdoba, the Casilda-born coach confirmed that he will remain in charge and is already focused on the next challenge: Monday’s clash against Rosario Central at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium.

The start of the Clausura Tournament has been devastating for the “T.” The Córdoba side sits at the bottom of Zone A with just 3 points out of a possible 15, has the most goals conceded in the competition with four losses in five matches, and is burdened by serious doubts about its play.

Despite the bleak outlook, in a key meeting he held with club president Andrés Fassi, Sampaoli made it clear that he has no plans to resign and that he feels strong enough to turn things around. From the club’s leadership, they agreed to back his tenure, at least for now.

A make-or-break clash against the Canalla

With no room for error, the match against Rosario Central has internally become a true “final” for the future of the Santa Fe-born coach. Another disappointment at home would not only mean a fifth defeat in six rounds, but also a decisive blow that could hasten the end of his spell at the Córdoba club.

For this crucial matchup, Sampaoli plans to hold double training sessions and will try to shake up the lineup. The good news for the coach is that he will be able to count on Uruguayan striker Agustín Álvarez Martínez, the “No. 9” he requested as a signing and who had not been cleared to play in the match in Mendoza.

How Almirón’s team arrives

The context of the match places the two teams in very different situations domestically. While Talleres is drifting near the bottom of its group, the Canalla is enjoying a solid run in the Liga Profesional, sitting third in Zone B thanks to three wins, one draw, and just one defeat.

However, the mood with which Central will arrive in Córdoba will depend largely on its fate on the international stage. This Thursday night, Jorge Almirón’s team will put everything on the line for a place in the next round of the Copa Libertadores against Corinthians in Brazil, after the scoreless draw in the first leg at the Gigante de Arroyito.

The result in São Paulo will determine the mood and physical wear of the yellow-and-blue side as it faces Sampaoli’s urgency in Córdoba next week.

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