millionaires lost 1-2 against Fluminense in the first leg of the qualifying phase of the Copa Libertadores 2022. And it is not that this result was not expected against the team that, due to resources, is twice as many as the blue cast. It was the way he succumbed that sparked a new debate: is this defeat a bill for the lack of investment in signings for an international tournament?
It was about a Brazilian club with an approximate value of 60 million euros against another that costs 20 million. Investment, in effect, already tipped the balance. But it must be said that the first 18 minutes gave the idea that, as the players themselves say, tickets do not enter the field and, while they were 11 against 11, there was a way to compete.
The trouble is that it was so short a time under conditions of equality that it cannot be said without a doubt that Millonarios has a way of standing up to a rival armed with veteran players, yes, but very expensive and very experienced, like Felipe Melo, the a man who mentally took them all out of the game (even the fans, whom he provoked on his way out). Blue does not have a comparable player. In fact, when Fred is injured and Cano replaces him, the idea remains that the Brazilians have at least two teams, two star options per position. Millions? It’s light years away from that.
The blue team reinforcements for this season were five: Álvaro Montero, José Abad Cuenú, Diego Herazo, Larry Vásquez, Richard Celis. Except for the goalkeeper, who arrived free and who was given a three-year contract, the others arrive on loan (that is, for free) and have only one year of contract, so in June they can leave and leave the team an orphan, as It just happened with men like Fernando Uribe or Daniel Giraldo, both today in Junior.
The great investment was the 300 thousand dollars that were paid for Daniel Ruiz to Fortaleza, a price that for many was ridiculous, considering that he is a talent of only 20 years of age and who will soon make the leap to international soccer.
The version of the board has always been that they bet and believe in the young talent of the team. Although, as usually happens, someone comes with 2.5 million dollars under his arm and takes Emerson Rivaldo Rodríguez, and then gives the idea that trust in those promises is only Gamero’s, because the club owners see them before as profit generators than as capital to be stored within the club.
The truth is that against a rival that doubles in resource, in experience and even in hierarchy to Gamero’s ‘baby team’, the seams are more noticeable than necessary and inexperience takes its toll. This time, two errors by Millonarios changed the match against Fluminense: Sosa’s silly expulsion and Montero’s incredible error in the first away goal. Silva’s penalty can happen, it hurts but it happens even to Messi. What would have happened without those own mistakes? Nobody knows.
The truth is that the changes made by the Brazilians gave results and revitalized the attack, while those of the Bogota team did not go beyond having a cosmetic effect. Is this defeat a hard landing for those who thought that football is really only 11 against 11 and that it does not weigh a huge investment on one side against a suspicious stinginess on the other? The 1-2 defeat in Bogotá is a symptom. But what is the disease?
What do you think? Vote in our poll:
Did Millionaires lose against Fluminense due to the lack of a more competitive payroll?
Yes, it is the fault of a directive that does not invest
No, the budget differences were not seen on the pitch
