Cerro Porteño coach optimistic about club's future after draw with Palmeiras

Cerro Porteño held Palmeiras to a goalless draw in Brazil, keeping their Copa Libertadores round of 16 series wide open. Coach Ariel Holan expressed a mix of realism and satisfaction following the match, acknowledging the immense challenge of facing a formidable opponent like Palmeiras multiple times.

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These things that football has, playing Palmeiras four times is crazy. I don't want to be redundant, but Palmeiras is a super team, it has all kinds of variants. If you analyze the game and what you have to counter, you have to counter. In all phases of the game they are a very decisive team, whether in dynamic play or set pieces, with tremendous depth. And it's a team that overwhelms you; it's very difficult not to go back or retreat. I think we played a great game defensively.

"Playing Palmeiras four times is crazy," Holan stated in a press conference. He described Palmeiras as a "super team" with diverse attacking options that constantly pressure opponents. "It's very difficult not to drop back or concede space," he added, emphasizing his team's "high-level defensive performance."

Holan detailed the tactical adjustments made after midfielder Andreas Pereira received a red card, forcing the team to recalibrate. He admitted the difficulty of maintaining possession and attacking effectively against such a strong adversary, especially when playing with 10 men. "We didn't want to go crazy looking for the draw because it's 180 minutes," he explained, noting that the team eventually made adjustments and executed their game plan, though he conceded it doesn't always work out at this level.

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It is very difficult not to have some mismatch with so much insistence from the opponent, with different variants to try to attack. I think we also had our chances, I think we played an excellent game defensively and I think that when what happened happened, that we were left with 10, until we could see how Palmeiras finished setting up... because Palmeiras, besides that, has that: it has players who leave you two up front, one ball and the game is over.

The coach also pointed to the risks associated with turnovers, given Palmeiras's strength in transitions. He stressed that his priority is the players' well-being and security over rigidly adhering to a tactical system, especially considering the limited time he has had to implement certain strategies. Holan concluded that the team played to its strengths while acknowledging areas that still need refinement.

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And you know, among their other virtues, are the transitions on our losses. So, I think we also played an excellent game knowing our strengths and still knowing the things that in such a short time of work are not polished and that I don't insist on carrying forward, because the safety of...