Cerro Porteño Fires Argentine Coach Ariel Holan; Gustavo Costas Nears Appointment

Cerro Porteño has parted ways with Argentine coach Ariel Holan, just months after his appointment. The decision followed a disappointing loss in the classic match against rival Olimpia last Sunday, which sealed the coach's fate. Holan had expressed his desire to fulfill his contract until June, but the club's management convened and opted for his dismissal.

Holan, who replaced Jorge Bava in early April, leaves the team in ninth place in the Clausura tournament, nine points behind leader Libertad. His tenure was marked by an early exit from the Copa Libertadores, losing to Palmeiras in the knockout stage. In 22 matches across all competitions, Holan secured eight wins, five draws, and nine losses. His most notable achievement was leading the team to first place in their Copa Libertadores group stage, including a victory over Palmeiras in São Paulo.

The club is now reportedly close to appointing Gustavo Costas as their new manager. Costas, who has extensive experience in Paraguayan football, previously managed Cerro Porteño and had a recent contentious departure from Racing in Argentina. Another option being considered is coach José Arrúa, should Costas's financial demands prove too high.

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This is a process. We had a great Libertadores, above what was expected given the caliber of the opponents. It's sad to lose the classic because the people support us and we couldn't give them joy. Building a team is not a simple task. It seems like we've been together for a long time because of everything we've played, but the truth is that little time has passed and the competition is constant. We couldn't stop the succession of injured players who are the core of the team. That forced us to accelerate processes with other players. It's not an excuse, it's the reality we faced. We have to overcome it and get back on track.