Brazilian club Internacional of Porto Alegre rejected claims that they are looking at selling Argentine playmaker Andres D´Alessandro, affirmed the club´s vice-president Fernando Carvalho. D´Alessandro helped Internacional finish in second-place of the Brazilian championship last season.

“I don´t know where the information about D´Alessandro´s exit came from, there´s no way this is happening. Our intention is for the player to remain at Inter,” Carvalho told reporters during vacations at the Uruguayan beach resort of Punta del Este.

According to Globo Esporte, D´Alessandro expressed his intentions of returning to Argentine football next season, in an attempt to increase his chances of making Argentina´s World Cup squad.

“D´Alessandro said he would like to return to Argentina, but not right now. The player will stay at Inter, there are no chances of him leaving,” affirmed the director.

Internacional´s new Uruguayan boss, Jorge Fossati, is very fond of the Argentine, and believes the player will play a key role at the club next season.

Gregory Sica

Southamericanfutbol.com

Universidad de Chile defeated Internacional of Brazil 1-0 in Santiago, and in doing so qualified for the quarter-finals of the Copa Sudamericana.

The only goal of the match was scored by Uruguayan striker Juan Manuel Olivera in the first half.

Universidad claimed a 1-1 draw in Porto Alegre last week and this put them in a favourable position ahead of the second leg.

The Chileans dominated the first half, and created several clear-cut opportunities to take the lead.

After much pressure they finally went in front in the 36th minute when the always reliable Olivera connected to a Walter Montillo free-kick with a perfect header.

After the break Inter boss Tite made a number of changes to give his side more attacking punch, and it seemed to work as they were more dangerous when moving forward.

La U resisted all the pressure Internacional threw at them towards the end of the match and progressed to the next round of the competition, even if they had to sweat for it.

In Ecuador, Emelec defeated Botafogo 2-1, but it wasn’t enough as the Brazilians progressed to the quarter-finals with a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Andre Lima had put Botafogo ahead early in the first half, but second half goals from Carlos and Jose Quinonez won Emelec the match.

Botafogo will face Universidad de Chile in the following round of the Copa Sudamericana.

Gregory Sica

Goal.com

Southamericanfutbol.com

In a round that saw not a single team win on the road, Palmeiras were able to consolidate their position at the top of the table with another important triumph.

Gremio thrashed Atletico Mineiro 4-1 at the Olimpico stadium in Porto Alegre, and in doing so climbed into ninth position. The two-time champions won courtesy of goals from Rever, Perea, Souza and Jonas. Evandro scored for the visitors.

At the Pacaembu stadium, Corinthians were held to a frustrating 3-3 draw by Botafogo. The Timao went ahead three times but couldn’t finish off their opponents and ended up paying the consequences. Corinthians, who once again were without Ronaldo, are in seventh place.

On Saturday, Palmeiras edged Internacional 2-1 to stay top of the table with 40 points. The Verdao, who wore a new blue and white shirt to commemorate their Italian roots, won the match with first-half goals from former Flamengo striker Obina and Jose Maria Ortigoza of Paraguay. Giuliano scored a consolation goal for Inter in the last three minutes of the match.

Goias jumped into second place with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Santos. Sao Paulo, the defending champions, were beaten 1-0 by Atletico Paranaense in Curitiba. The only goal of the match was scored by veteran Paulo Baier, who connected to a Gabriel cross with a fine header.

This season’s revelation club, Avai, moved into fourth place after thrashing Flamengo 3-0 at the Ressacada stadium in Florianopolis. They won the match with first-half goals from Luis Ricardo and Leo Gago, and a second-half effort from Fabinho Capixaba.

Meanwhile, Cruzeiro crushed Nautico 4-2 at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte. The match was held up twice due to power failures.

In other matches, Santo Andre sneaked past Coritiba 1-0, Sport Recife beat Vitoria 2-0, and Fluminense and Barueri fought out a goalless draw.

Four players lead the scoring charts with ten goals, these being Val Baiano (Barueri), Marcelinho Paraiba (Coritiba), Adriano (Flamengo) and Gilmar (Nautico).

Gregory Sica

Goal.com

Southamericanfutbol.com

After 210 minutes of nail-biting action, Sport Clube Internacional lifted the Copa Sudamericana for the first time on Wednesday, an achievement that cements its status as one of the leading clubs in South American soccer history.

Internacional overcame a determined Estudiantes de La Plata 2-1 on aggregate over the two legs — thanks to a dramatic 113th minute winner from outstanding striker Nilmar — when it seemed the final would be decided by a penalty shootout.

The enthusiastic crowd of 55,000 at the Beiro-Rio stadium of Porto Alegre, Brazil, was treated to an extraordinary encounter that could have gone either way. But in the end, Internacional proved its superiority and claimed a title that completes a memorable last couple of years for the club.

Inter won its first major international trophy in 2006 with the Copa Libertadores, South America’s biggest club competition. That same year, it ousted FC Barcelona for the Club World Cup title in Japan, and the following year it claimed the Recopa Sudamericana. Its latest title triumph, the Copa Sudamericana, saw it join Boca Juniors as the only club in South America to have lifted every single international trophy available.

Much of the credit should go to the Internacional board, a professional bunch of people who understand that success only comes with hard work. Not only did the club go out of its way to bring in high-profile players like Andrés D’Alessandro, Nilmar and Pablo Guiñazú, but it also managed to maintain highly rated players like Alex and Edinho, despite ongoing pressure from abroad.

Inter’s title triumph was a culmination of several determining factors that have characterized the southern Brazilian club over the years: a winning mentality, hard work and determination.

Internacional proved to be worthy winners of the Sudamericana after an extraordinary campaign in which it remained undefeated through all 10 of its matches. But despite proving superior to everyone it faced, it would be a mistake not to recognize that the unconventional format of the competition opened its path to glory.

Since its installment in ’02, the credibility of the Copa Sudamericana has been questioned because of its complicated format and ridiculous selection criteria. Unlike Europe’s UEFA Cup, which involves the weaker teams of the continent, the Sudamericana predominantly consists of the top clubs of the region. But even so, the credibility of the tournament has diminished because of a lack of organization.

Widely considered the second-tier competition in South America behind the Libertadores, the Sudamericana began to pick up in status a few years ago because of its exciting knockout format. But since then, and particularly this year, it has lost great prominence because of varying reasons.

In Brazil, for instance, the teams that gain entry to the tournament are the league winners, as well as those who finish between fifth and 12th place in the standings. This means not all the best teams take part, and this evidently has affected the level of quality on display. It’s no surprise then, that after seven editions, Internacional was the first Brazilian club to win the title, in comparison to four wins for Argentine clubs (no Brazilian team had even reached the final before).

But perhaps what mostly affects the Sudamericana’s reputation is that the only clubs that consider the tournament a first priority are those from the weaker South American leagues: pretty much all except for Brazil and Argentina.

This edition was a perfect example of the level of importance the competition is given. Most Brazilian teams fielded reserve squads for the tournament in order to rest their top players for the “more important” Campeonato Brasileiro.

Major clubs such as São Paulo, Palmeiras and Grêmio performed well below their potential in order to concentrate on the domestic competition. All three of these teams had realistic chances of winning the Brazilian Championship, which will likely be won by São Paulo in the final round of the season on Sunday.

The Copa Sudamericana comes at a decisive stage of the Brasileiro, and clubs can’t afford to hurt their chances at the expense of international recognition. Even teams who face possible relegation decided to reserve their starters for league play. Such was the case with Atlético Paranaense, which is why it was eliminated in the round of 16 by Chivas de Guadalajara, a struggling side that eventually bowed out after a 6-0 aggregate demolition by Inter.

Two-time winners Boca Juniors — who are unfairly granted automatic entry into the round of 16 stage, along with River Plate, irrespective of their league form — also took the competition as a second priority this season, as they set their sights on the Argentine Apertura Championship.

Boca coach Carlos Ischia fielded alternative sides in his team’s four Copa matches, and although it managed to eliminate Libertadores champion LDU Quito in the round of 16, it was knocked out by Internacional in the quarterfinals after an unexpected 4-1 aggregate defeat, including a rare loss at the Bombonera stadium in the second leg.

Had Boca utilized its “real” team, perhaps the strongest of the continent, it could have been a much different story. The Buenos Aires giants had eliminated Inter on the way to their ’04 and ’05 Sudamericana triumphs. Those editions of the competition were taken with much more seriousness.

In retrospect, it was no coincidence that the ’08 finalists of the competition — Inter and Estudiantes — had little possibility of fighting for domestic honors this season, and unlike other teams involved in the tournament, focused all their attention on the international scene.

For the Copa Sudamericana to remain a credible competition, and not a waste of time like the UEFA Cup, drastic measures must be implemented. The tournament is in much need of innovation, and unless it is revamped in the following years, it will continue to sit in the shadows of the Copa Libertadores.

Gregory Sica

Article at Si.com

Southamericanfutbol.com

Are the world champions a one-hit wonder?

Sport Club Internacional was the story of 2006, surprising everyone by winning the Copa Libertadores for the club’s first-ever major international title. The Brazilian club then went on to shock Barcelona in Japan at the Club World Cup in December.

Now? Barely seven months after its first big triumph, Inter may not even make it out of the first round in its defense of the South American crown.

After a huge breakout, this year could be tragic for the club. Despite a positive influx of talent in the squad, its latest Libertadores campaign has been a nightmare.

The reigning champs have reason to expect the worst — if they don’t reverse the situation immediately, they could already be on their way out.

With only three points through nine matches, Inter’s morale is at its lowest point, especially with two heavy defeats. Unless there is an immediate change in attitude from the players, they can look forward to being the laughing stock of the continent, as the likes of Santos, Boca Juniors, Libertad and Flamengo look to consolidate themselves in the competition.

The funny thing is, it isn’t as if Abel Braga‘s side is playing that badly. The main reason they’re in such a deep hole has less to do with them — it’s because so many of the other clubs have gotten stronger. Almost two months in, we’ve been treated to some of the best soccer the Copa Libertadores has had to offer in recent years.

Still, the Brazilians from Porto Alegre have been heavily criticized for their lack of creativity, especially in the midfield. They’ve also been slow and predictable, and highly rated attacking players Iarley and Fernandão don’t seem to have woken up yet. Apart from teenage sensation Alexandre Pato, who led Inter to a 3-0 win against Emelec, the side has looked sluggish.

The reason? They entered the field with salto alto, commonly used slang for “overconfidence.” After making history last season, the club has gone off the roof with its celebrations, to the degree that its preseason work got off to a late start and the team lost ground on its competition.

Much like the Brazilian national team in last year’s World Cup, Inter came into the Libertadores thinking it would breeze through its supposedly inferior group opponents and would then begin thinking about defending its own crown. But it doesn’t work that way. Inter was placed in the most evenly matched group of an increasingly tough competition, and should’ve been in fifth gear right from the beginning. Injuries haven’t helped its cause, either.

The sad part about all this is that Inter actually has the potential to win back-to-back titles. The Reds are a solid side with plenty of good options in most sectors of the field. But they haven’t shown the attitude or the will to succeed.

Inter still has enough time to correct the situation, and that starts on Wednesday night when it hosts the most important match of the year: Vélez Sarsfield at the Beira-Rio. It’s a true do-or-die, as Inter must win the game at all costs in order to maintain the possibility of advancing past the group stage.

But it won’t be easy. Embattled Inter will be up against a team that is still undefeated in the competition and is coming off a 3-0 triumph when the sides met in Buenos Aires two weeks ago. An extra incentive for the Argentines is that a victory will send them into the knockout round.

As of Tuesday, Inter shares last place with Emelec in Group 4. But while Vélez is virtually assured of a place in the next round, the other qualifying spot is open to any of the remaining teams in the group.

While Inter’s problems have intensified, so has the pressure. The club has not only underachieved in the Copa Libertadores, but also in the Campeonato Gaúcho, the state tournament of Rio Grande do Sul. In a competition littered with lower-division opponents, the Reds have fallen to second-rate clubs such as like Ulbra, Santa Cruz and Juventude.

Even if Inter is able to get out of this mess, don’t be surprised if it runs out of steam soon after. The side has clearly lost much of last year’s character due to mismanagement that led to the sale of several key players. The mood in the dressing room isn’t at its best, but if the problem is dealt with adequately, Inter can still be the big surprise.

If it wants to preserve its recent glory, Internacional must come out of its shell immediately. Braga’s men don’t have any margin for error if they intend to defend their crown. All three remaining matches from here on are must-win situations. It’s now or never.

Gregory Sica

Article at Si.com

Southamericanfutbol.com

Now tell me it wasn’t a shocker. Internacional’s stunning 1-0 victory over Barcelona in the title game of the FIFA Club World Cup sent a message around the world: Soccer’s balance of power is shifting toward clubs with a greater hunger to succeed.

Inter’s victory may well be the success story of the year if you’re the kind of person who loves giant upsets on the biggest stages. It’s always great to see the top two sides from the world’s two strongest continents battle it out, but particularly when the stakes are so high. South American clubs cherish the opportunity to showcase their skill to the world, especially when it’s at the expense of one of Europe’s most lucrative clubs.

Much of the reason behind the recent success of South American clubs is the outstanding internal quality of its major competitions, the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana. These events have only increased in prominence in recent years, and their exciting formats mean that several different clubs are beginning to inflict pressure on the traditional heavyweights and are coming out on top.

This year was no exception, and no matter your vantage point, the continent has experienced numerous surprises. It all started in August when Internacional hoisted the Copa Libertadores after an amazing run that saw it edge out defending champion São Paulo in the final.

The Porto Alegre-based club hadn’t qualified for the competition in 12 years, but all of a sudden it was sweeping aside the top club in the tournament en route to the title. Inter’s stunner over Ronaldinho‘s Barça last weekend only justified the achievement.

The year of the underdog has seen many South American clubs come back into the spotlight after long periods in mediocrity. Not only in Brazil, but also in Argentina – a country whose league has mostly been dominated by its wealthier clubs. The conclusion of the season provided a shock of the highest magnitudes as cash-strapped Estudiantes de La Plata came from behind to snatch the title away from overwhelming favorite Boca Juniors.

Steered by the determination of manager Diego Simeone and the character of midfielder Juan Sebastián Verón, Estudiantes never threw in the towel. Almost to the finish line of the Apertura championship, it looked unlikely that they would have a chance to catch Boca seeing as there was absolutely no room for error. But Estudiantes did just that — they made no mistakes in recording an impressive 12 victories in 13 matches to draw even with Boca, and then came from a goal down to defeat the two-time defending champs 2-1 in the championship playoff.

But it doesn’t stop there. Last week Pachuca added unprecedented prestige to its league, becoming the first Mexican club to win a major club competition inside South America. Los Tuzos defied all odds as they brushed aside hot favorite Colo-Colo for the Copa Sudamericana crown.

Clearly the balance of power in South American competitions is shifting toward the direction of those clubs that have been starved for recognition in recent years, despite having experienced glorious pasts. The reason: Clubs are beginning to understand that there are several elements that characterize a championship team, with the most important being skill, attitude and determination.

Internacional is the prime example of this rebellion. Not only did the Colorado defeat a star-studded Barcelona side, but they did so with awesome temperament. Inter made history in superb fashion, and although deemed inferior when compared to its imposing opposition, it lived up to the expectations of its massive following back home. Said attacking midfielder Iarley, whose picture-perfect pass led to Luis Adriano‘s late goal, “The matches are won on the field, not with one’s name.”

Inter’s victory once again verified that Brazilian clubs are still the most poised to win these kind of tournaments. Since the first club world championship in 2000, Brazilian clubs have had a tight lock on things. Despite the ongoing exodus of top players to Europe, its clubs continue to succeed, a trend many credit to the wealth of homegrown talent that continues to grow in Brazil.

Mexican clubs don’t have the same ludicrous pipeline Brazil has, which may be part of the reason they’ve never raised a South American trophy until now. Some have come close — Cruz Azul lost in the Libertadores final in ’01 and Chivas reached the semis the past two years, while Pumas lost in the Sudamericana final last year — but for the most part, they’re viewed as a disappointment by South American fans. That all changed last week when Pachuca finally stamped Mexico in the history books.

Fittingly, it wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for the inspiration of Pachuca’s South American players, particularly Argentines Christian Giménez and Damián Álvarez (who scored both Pachuca goals in the deciding second leg last week). They stole the show, and demonstrated that — besides Chivas, which fields only native players — Mexican clubs hugely rely on South American talent to overcome difficult opposition.

But more important, Pachuca demonstrated that Mexican clubs have improved enormously over the last few years, and that persistence is the key for them to keep on developing as they look to continue to make progress in top South American competitions.

The past year soccer was turned on its ear in South America, as clubs who haven’t been consistently successful in recent years took center stage. While Estudiantes and Pachuca have proven that fighting spirit can always replace quality, Internacional went a further step to outline the main concept behind winning a major title. The Brazilians not only reaffirmed that determination is still a defining factor in the game, but also a quality that can get the best out of any club.

Gregory Sica

Article at Si.com

Southamericanfutbol.com

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil — OK, Internacional fans, I admit it: You’re big-time now.

After 90 minutes of the best action the Copa Libertadores has seen this year, Inter was finally able to write itself into the history books.
Wednesday night’s nail-biting 2-2 draw was enough to give the club its first South American title, an accomplishment that adds some much-needed prestige to the organization’s identity.

Back in February, just days before the 47th edition of the most important club competition of the continent began, I referred to Inter as “small” when compared to clubs such as São Paulo. Six months later, the southern Brazilians proved me wrong, winning their first major international trophy in outstanding fashion by defeating São Paulo, the reigning South American and world club champions.

The statement I made definitely caused some commotion in Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state in Brazil. I received loads of angry e-mails from proud Internacional supporters,  including retorts such as, “To read you calling them a smaller club is painful because it’s simply not true.”

Many who wrote tried to educate me about their beloved club, including one guy who went out of his way to compile a short video that included Internacional’s history and achievements. Some reiterated the fact that Inter has won three Brazilian championships, and in 1979 was the only club in Brazilian history to win the championship while going undefeated.

I already knew the club was “big” in Brazil and had produced players of the caliber of Valdomiro, Falcão, Mauro Galvão, Dunga and Taffarel. But facts are facts: Inter had never won a Copa Libertadores, and in my opinion, to be recognized among the elite of the continent, this title was a necessity.

But now they are the champions, having proved themselves when it mattered most. After winning its group convincingly, Inter knocked out tough opponents, like three-time champion Nacional of Uruguay, Liga de Quito — a side made up with the bulk of the Ecuador team that reached the World Cup round of 16 — and Libertad, a solid Paraguayan side that crushed River Plate in the previous round.

However, the result that took the entire continent by surprise was Inter’s stunning 2-1 defeat of São Paulo at the Morumbí in the first leg of the finals. It was a match that did wonders to boost the confidence of Inter fans. Shortly after that game I received an e-mail from a fan named Marcelo Larangeira.

Half a year ago the same guy insisted on me visiting his city, and seeing the club that, according to him, was one of the most important in Brazil. And this time he was at it again, offering help and advice for my journey.

“I wrote to you back on Feb. 3 when you, out of nowhere, came up with the idea that Inter is/was a small Brazilian team,” he wrote. “We’re coming back playing very competitive soccer. Have you decided to go to Porto Alegre to watch us against São Paulo, which, before I forget, is the final of the Libertadores?”

I would be, I wrote back. In truth, I had been keeping track of Inter’s progress throughout the competition and was anticipating the club reaching the final. Its final appearance meant that I couldn’t afford to miss the opportunity, so I traveled to Larangeira’s beautiful city, visited the club and its people and even spoke to the players.

To Marcelo’s credit, I was definitely impressed with what I saw and heard. The club is the epitome of professionalism, from its facilities to its management. And then, of course, there are the fans who, according to Marcelo, “are really something very special, big hearted, and not greedy.” In visits to Argentina, Uruguay and other parts of Brazil, I had already witnessed their support — a club that consistently takes around 4,000 fans with it when it competes on foreign grounds.

But Wednesday night was the biggest match in the club’s 97-year history, and as I had imagined, all of the Colorado faithful went out of their way to make it a truly amazing atmosphere. They definitely got carried away, but it worked wonders to intensify the tension on the field.

The hundreds of flares in the stands let off such a quantity of smoke that Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo had to stop the game a couple of times because the players couldn’t see the ball. Imagine us in the stands — all we could see was the white smoke that filled the air.

When the smoke cleared, the game resumed and Inter demonstrated why it is the best team on the continent. The Colorado put on a marvelous display against a very strong São Paulo side. Players like Rafael Sóbis, Tinga and Bolívar all proved their worth one final time before their expected departures to European clubs. But team captain Fernandão was the standout, scoring Inter’s first goal and assisting on the second.

After picking up South America’s grand prize, Inter can now be considered not only “big” in Brazil, but also in the same light as the elite clubs of the entire continent. With December’s Club World Cup approaching, Inter has a greater opportunity: to prove itself on the world stage.

Gregory Sica

Article at Si.com

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil — It doesn’t get any bigger than this. After a 12-year absence from South America’s most prestigious club competition, Internacional has taken a massive step toward a title.

Inter’s stunning 2-1 victory over São Paulo at the colossal Morumbí stadium last week means a draw here on Wednesday night will be enough to crown it the champions of the Copa Libertadores.

O Colorado is impatiently hoping to make the most of the opportunity in order to emerge from the shadow of city rival Grêmio, which has already won the title twice.

Moments after Inter’s final training session before Wednesday’s deciding match, I sat down for a chat with Bolívar, a key player in the center of the defense, who will be playing his last match for the club on his 26th birthday. The fullback discussed the anxiety leading up to the most important match in the club’s 97-year history.

SI.com: Do you feel Inter has an important advantage over São Paulo after the first leg result?

Bolívar: Yes, there’s a great belief that we can win the title, and the fact that we will be playing in front of our home fans will give us a further advantage. Inter must keep the same rhythm as in its past matches and we must be confident in ourselves. We know the title is in our reach and we will definitely be giving it our best.

SI.com: The result puts Inter into the decider with a great chance of winning its first Libertadores title. What must the team do in order to win the title?

Bolívar: We have to maintain the same rhythm as in the first leg. Now we must make the most of our 2-1 lead because São Paulo is a great team, as everyone already knows, and they have the quality to turn the result in their favor. We won the first 90 minutes and São Paulo will come here to do the same thing as we did one week ago. Inter respects São Paulo, but we know that we are very strong when playing at home and we will try to show this on the field. The home support is an important factor, but we can’t get carried away.

SI.com: Is there any São Paulo player in particular that should be kept under close guard?

Bolívar: All of them. São Paulo is a very strong group and Inter is fully aware of this and the potential of its players. Ricardo Oliveira is definitely the danger man, but if he doesn’t play, they have Aloisio as another option. He is another great player with lots of experience and we must try to give him as little time with the ball as possible. São Paulo has many talented individuals and we must be prepared for this so that we don’t get any unwanted surprises.

SI.com: Is Inter going to take a defensive approach to the game or will you go out to win?

Bolívar: We must come out to attack and play for the victory. If we think about playing defensively it could be a very dangerous match, so we will try to play with an attacking approach, because a draw still favors us. Still, we’ll go for the win as we have the quality to do so and taking the game to them will make things much easier as we look to close in on the title.

SI.com: As you say, a draw favors you. Does that mean you’ll try to slow down the pace in the first period?

Bolívar: No, Inter is used to being very aggressive when playing at home, as we have showed throughout the Libertadores. When we needed to win our home matches, we did so, and this time it won’t be any different. On Wednesday, our objective will be to win the title, no matter the result, and we’ll do whatever it takes.

SI.com: You will be leaving the club for French side AS Monaco after Wednesday’s game. Is this a distraction for you, or is it a further motivation to do well and succeed in winning the title?

Bolívar: All I’m thinking about is helping Inter become champions. I want to leave the club victorious. I want to be remembered as a player that gave everything for the club, and the Libertadores Cup will put me and my teammates in the club’s history books. My objective is to help Inter win the title and nothing else. I will have plenty of time to think about my new club in the future.

SI.com: If you had to pinpoint your best quality what would it be?

Bolívar: I’m a calm player and I give security to the team on the field. I feel that I am a player that both the manager and my teammates can rely on as I rarely make mistakes and always give my 100 percent for the team.

SI.com: Inter fans are already in party mode, but there’s still the second leg to play.

Bolívar: Our fans already feel we are champions, because we picked up such a good result in São Paulo. But we know that although our fans are already celebrating, we still have to finish the job. We know it’s going to be a very difficult match because São Paulo now has nothing to lose. They are a great team and are the defending Libertadores champions.

SI.com: Will Wednesday be the most important day of your life?

Bolívar: Yes, for many of us it will be. We will do everything to win the title. Our fans will also want to get into the history books because it has been a very long time since we last won an important title. We the players know that this is very important for our fans who share our same mission and we hope to help them reach their objective. There’s nothing better than to win such an important title at the Beiro-Rio stadium, where all our fans can witness history being made.

SI.com: Is there anything you’d like to say to the Colorado fans before the most important match in the club’s history?

Bolívar: Yes, to be calm. We are halfway there. All of us at Inter know that you have been waiting for this moment for many years, and we will try our best to reach the objective. You are amazing fans that have always had confidence in us and have shown us your support throughout the Libertadores, so we will try our best to pay back the favor. Keep faith in the team and we will sacrifice everything to bring you the title.

Gregory Sica

Article at Si.com