Sporting Cristal: Irven Ávila revealed the game proposal of the 'celestes' against Flamengo for Copa Libertadores

Sporting Cristal have been rebounding in Liga 1 after an irregular start in the first few dates. This was reflected in the last victory they won against Universidad San Martín, so they will arrive in the best way to the duel that will have this Tuesday, April 5th against Flamengo for the first date of group H of the Copa Libertadores. Precisely, Irven Ávila spoke about this match against the Brazilians, announcing the intention of the 'celestes'.

“We are going to go out and look for them, to press on the rival field. Obviously, taking a certain safeguard behind and knowing that we can be wrong, because the first time you get it wrong in international tournaments you end up paying dearly. We are aware of that. We already have experience, so let's go step by step. We know how hard this rival is going to be, but we are convinced to do things well,” commented the striker of the 'bajopontinos' in an interview for Cristal TV.

The proposal of the 'rimenses' might seem risky, but it is in their DNA to play the same way as playing with any team. Since they started the project with coach Roberto Mosquera in 2012, successes have been gradually coming, despite the fact that this risky style can sometimes play against it internationally due to the hardness and opportunism of rivals, who are not usually to waste scoring opportunities. Hence, the DT must strengthen the team in the defensive phase to avoid any mistakes or misconceptions that may occur.

And the fact is that the 'brewer' team is a team that has dominated national football in the last decade. However, his results have not been the best at the international level, since he has stayed in the group stage or even, in previous rounds. In that sense, he has not qualified for the round of 16 for more than 15 years. Specifically, 2004 was the last time they did so when they finished first in group I after scoring 10 points, ahead of Argentina's Rosario Central, Brazil's Coritiba and Paraguay's Olimpia.

On this occasion, he will face a Brazilian team that has been the protagonist of this competition in recent editions. In fact, in 2019 he won against River Plate in the final that was played at the Monumental Stadium in Lima. And if that were not enough, last year he was runner-up behind Palmeiras. Therefore, it is a very careful rival.

SUPPORT FROM FANS

Precisely on the occasion of this match against 'Mengao, 'Cholito acknowledged that the support of the fans will be essential to get the match forward in search of a result that will allow them to dream of entering the next round. “The frame seen in the stadiums helps the team a lot. Ask the fans to continue supporting us. Many times, things don't work out the way you plan to work, but it's always the support of them, the affection they make us feel and now more than ever that a great rival is coming,” said the 31-year-old footballer.

TRIUMPH AGAINST SAN MARTIN

Finally, Ávila was happy about Cristal's last triumph against the 'holy' painting. Mostly because of the superiority they displayed on the playing field despite the equality that there was in the first half. “I think that the tranquility and at the same time the happiness of the group, we already deserved a win with a score like this because of what we did during the match. It got a little complicated for us in the first half, but I think that in the second half the way we pressed was corrected, some things were adjusted and we were able to solve it in the second half,” he said.

This result will lead them to what is next in Liga 1 and, incidentally, to get on the path of a cast with a view to finding the first places, as well as fighting in their group for the Copa Libertadores, which is also made up of the Catholic University of Chile and Talleres de Córdoba in Argentina.

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