“Voy a seguir rompiéndole las pelotas a los representantes y agentes para que lo cuiden,” declared Boca Juniors manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena regarding 19-year-old forward Leonel Flores. Following a 3–0 victory over Unión at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, the manager addressed the media to discuss the team’s ongoing campaign in the Torneo Clausura, the standout performance of his young goalscorer, and a fresh injury concern surrounding midfielder Alan Velasco.
Boca Juniors Secures 3–0 Victory Over Unión at La Bombonera
Boca Juniors extended its unbeaten run across all competitions to 16 matches with a convincing 3–0 win against Unión. Lautaro Di Lollo opened the scoring with a header before Leonel Flores entered the match in the second half to score a brace, sealing the three points in the capital. Despite the comfortable margin, Arruabarrena maintained strict caution when evaluating his squad’s current trajectory in domestic and international fixtures. “Estamos en muchas competencias, vamos a tratar de pelear todo, pero no hemos ganado nada y tenemos que tener los pies sobre la tierra,” the manager told reporters, neutralizing any premature title talk by invoking the popular Argentine football phrase “anulo mufa” to ward off bad luck.
Rodolfo Arruabarrena Demands Housing Change for Leonel Flores
The technical staff turned considerable attention toward Flores, who arrived at the senior squad following a recent debut for the Argentina national team. Arruabarrena expressed pointed concern over the teenager’s daily commute from Beccar, which stretches to an hour and a half each way. “Te voy a ser sincero, Leo vive en Beccar y se hace en una hora y media. Me rompe las pelotas que no viva acá en Puerto Madero,” Arruabarrena stated, pressing for a relocation to Puerto Madero that would cut the travel time down to 25 minutes for training sessions at Boca Predio. The coaching staff emphasized that protecting the young forward from off-field distractions remains paramount as outside interest surges around his sudden explosion in the Primera División.
Alan Velasco Suffers Apparent Muscle Tear During Second Half
While the scoreline favored the home side, the fixture brought negative news to the medical room. Alan Velasco was forced off 15 minutes into the second half with an apparent physical issue. Arruabarrena provided the initial assessment during his post-match press conference, indicating that the former Independiente attacker likely sustained a muscle injury. “Creo que Alan Velasco tuvo un pequeño desgarro. Ojalá lo podamos recuperar y tener opciones,” the manager explained, adding to a mounting list of physical setbacks that includes Tomás Belmonte, who underwent successful surgery for a right knee external meniscus tear.
Squad Depth Tested Ahead of Copa Argentina Semifinal Against Banfield
With a congested fixture list ahead—including a visit to Instituto in Córdoba and a Copa Sudamericana semifinal series against Vasco da Gama—Boca faces crucial roster management hurdles. Arruabarrena acknowledged the scheduling complication regarding potential national team call-ups for his players, noting that the squad will rely on contributions from youth categories to offset ongoing absences as the competition narrows into its decisive final stretch.
Leandro Lozano Earns High Praise From Arruabarrena
Arruabarrena also highlighted the quality brought by Uruguayan lateral Leandro Lozano, whose performances have established him securely within the starting XI. “No voy a hablar mucho porque después Forlán lo cita a la selección,” the manager joked regarding the defender’s international prospects. The technical staff previously attempted to sign Lozano during his stint in Arabia, valuing his defensive attributes, tactical awareness in attacking spaces, and proficiency in combining with wingers on the flank.
Worth a look
