Óscar Ibáñez has advocated for maintaining confidence in Alejandro Duarte, the current goalkeeper of Alianza Lima, following an error that resulted in the defeat against Universitario de Deportes. The recommendation comes in a critical context ahead of the match with ADT.
The former goalkeeper of the Peruvian national team analyzed the delicate situation that Duarte is going through in the Torneo Clausura, noting that his performance has been questioned, especially after the blanquiazul team, which had success in the Apertura, suffered a setback in their last match. In the 97th minute of the classic, confusion between Duarte and defender Gianfranco Chávez allowed Lisandro Alzugaray to score the winning goal for Universitario, intensifying doubts about the goalkeeper’s continuity in the starting eleven.
Ibáñez, who also has experience as a national coach, emphasized that the team’s moment and the proximity of a new match make it risky to make a change in goal. He argued that it is essential to restore the starting goalkeeper’s confidence. “Putting in a young goalkeeper [Ángel De la Cruz, 24 years old] for the rest of the matches, without much experience, would be a bit complicated. You have to give support to the starter, especially at home. A good result can set everything right,” he said in a conversation.
Moreover, Ibáñez defended Duarte’s decision in the play that decided the match, arguing that it is important to consider the lack of coordination with Chávez and that the goalkeeper faces greater pressure being the one who concedes the goal. “For me, Duarte comes out well. What happened was a situation that the goalkeeper has to decide in a split second,” he remarked, reflecting on his own experience in the sport.
Ibáñez’s response aligns with the approach of Pablo Guede, the coach of Alianza Lima, who has expressed his unwavering support for Duarte, clarifying that mistakes are part of the game and the challenge lies in how a player recovers from them.
For the match against ADT, scheduled for this Friday, September 18, Alianza Lima is currently in eleventh place in the Clausura with 13 points, while Universitario leads the table. This match will be crucial for the team that seeks to improve its position and keep alive the hope of winning the national tournament after having won the Apertura.
Source: www.infobae.com
