Claudio Úbeda, ex-Boca coach: 'I always picked the players I wanted'

Claudio Úbeda, the former head coach of Boca Juniors, has broken his silence regarding his time leading the team, addressing persistent rumors about the influence of the club's Football Council on tactical decisions and player selection.

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It's a lie.

In an interview with ESPN's F90 program, Úbeda categorically denied any interference from Juan Román Riquelme or the club's board in forming the starting lineup. "It's a lie," he stated firmly. Úbeda asserted his complete autonomy, declaring, "I always picked the players I wanted. Always. Always. And if I had to die on my hill, I would, but it always happened that way."

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I always picked the players I wanted. Always. Always. And if I had to die on my hill, I would, but it always happened that way.

Úbeda also reflected on the intense media scrutiny surrounding Boca Juniors, noting a significant difference between the reality within the club's facilities and the speculation that circulates externally. "Boca is experienced one way inside the grounds and another way outside," he observed, adding that the club's high profile generates many narratives that do not reflect daily operations.

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Boca is experienced one way inside the grounds and another way outside.

The former coach also addressed a specific controversial moment: the substitution of player Exequiel Zeballos during a match against Racing Club. Úbeda explained the decision was based purely on the player's physical condition during the game. "We were the ones who put him back in the first team... In that particular match, I saw he was very tired. That he was really tired, and that's why I considered he had to come off. Obviously, can we be wrong? Yes. Did we make a mistake? Yes, we made a mistake," he admitted.

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We were the ones who put him back in the first team... In that particular match, I saw he was very tired. That he was really tired, and that's why I considered he had to come off. Obviously, can we be wrong? Yes. Did we make a mistake? Yes, we made a mistake.