Claudio Bravo criticized Universidad Católica's performance following their 1-2 defeat to Boca Juniors at the Claro Arena on Tuesday night.
Speaking on ESPN, the former Chilean national team goalkeeper argued that the 'Cruzados' lacked the necessary aggression to secure a victory in their Copa Libertadores debut.
“It was a match where you shouldn't respect the opponent so much,” Bravo said. He noted that while the team improved late in the game, the early stages were lacking.
Bravo observed that the team appeared timid during the first half. “Boca takes the lead in a very calm manner,” he added, suggesting the team should have utilized the home crowd by pressing higher and playing more directly.
Garnero points to intensity gap
Universidad Católica head coach Daniel Garnero shared similar sentiments regarding the team's inability to control the match. Garnero attributed the early setback to a defensive error that allowed Leandro Paredes to score in the 16th minute.
“We made a mistake and opened up the game,” Garnero said. He noted that Adam Bareiro added a second goal for the visitors in the 65th minute, while Juan Díaz pulled one back for the hosts in the 83rd minute.
Garnero explained that his tactical plan focused on winning the midfield battle to disrupt Boca's circulation. However, he admitted the team struggled to maintain that pressure.
“The truth is that the rhythm of our league is different from the Argentine league. That is a reality,” Garnero stated. He emphasized the need for internal work to increase the team's intensity.
Looking ahead, the Argentine manager stressed the urgency of securing points in upcoming away matches to keep qualification hopes alive for the first phase of the tournament.
