The pass book runs from June 16 to July 13 and all the teams in League 1 will be able to reinforce themselves according to their possibilities. Alianza Lima enters this bag and from the technical command they are already evaluating the options to incorporate into the squad. As is known, winning the Apertura was the first step for the ‘tri’; but the Clausura appears as an opportunity on the road that can be taken advantage of in order to avoid the playoffs. If they also win it, they will be national champions directly. For this, it is necessary to reduce the errors shown in the first tournament of the year and avoid injury problems, absence of variations in certain positions, among other similar incidents.
Why Alianza Lima needs to be strengthened for the Clausura?
Saying that the blue and white team has the best squad in League 1 is not far from the truth. Alianza Lima put together a team designed to compete in the Copa Libertadores and achieve the three-time championship. He dispensed with some foreign elements such as Arley Rodríguez and brought in top players. Santiago García, Gabriel Costa, Pablo Sabbag, Andrés Andrade, Christian Cueva, Carlos Zambrano and Gabriel Costa arrived at Matute as the most outstanding signings in the local media. They are all quality footballers, with a track record and in some cases with a European past. And that bet, added to renewing the confidence of leaders like Hernán Barcos, gave results: the team stayed with the Apertura and fights in the Libertadores. However, along the way he suffered from injuries and the irregular level of some players, so Salas had to improvise in some games.
- This is the usual eleven of Alianza Lima (without injuries)
The absences of Gino Peruzzi (regular) and Edinson Chávez (substitute) due to injury left the right-back position empty at one point. Faced with the emergency, Salas chose to test players who are not used to that position. Franco Zanelatto passed first, who complied with what DT asked of him, but the team lost offensive weight and danger. Then it was the turn of Aldair Rodríguez, who also collaborated with the brand and the route in an area that is not his. Without being convinced, ‘Chicho’ finally placed Yordi Vílchez (central defender) in an attempt to maintain order and defensive balance. For now, it is he who occupies that place in the field in the absence of Peruzzi and Chávez; however, it is only temporary.
On the other hand, there is also the position of left back, where Ricardo Lagos seems to be the only option. When ‘Richi’ was absent, Salas placed García, who knows that area and has played there before. He noted that he also used youth squad player Nicolás Amasifuen, 17, but without achieving that desired continuity. However, the coach’s intention is to sign an element that can give Lagos competition for his band and expand his variants in the event of any adverse incident. In this way, the team seeks to balance where it is needed and the transfer market appears as a solution to add players.
Be that as it may, it is demonstrated that despite being a large squad and with replacement alternatives, Alianza Lima suffered setbacks in the Apertura that put the technical command in the team’s assembly in check. Playing in the Copa Libertadores and the Liga 1 at the same time brought this type of consequences and, regardless of whether or not I manage to advance in the international competition from now on, this situation should not be repeated in the Clausura, which defines success or the team failure this season.
At the moment, it is known that Alianza Lima is looking for a left-back and names like Kevin Quevedo, with a blue and white past and today at Deportivo Garcilaso, have also approached him. Although he is an offensive player, the close ones have more than two options in that area of the field. Costa, Rodríguez and Zanelatto regularly alternate on the right wing and that makes it difficult for ‘Quevegol’ to return. However, nothing is ruled out and for now the team only thinks about closing the Opening with a flourish.
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