San Lorenzo de Almagro officially began Rubén Darío Insúa's third spell as manager on Monday, as reported by Ole. The team, sitting tenth in the Liga Profesional Argentina with 10 points from 8 games, seeks stability following the departure of Néstor Gorosito.
How was Insúa's return announced?
The club announced the 'Gallego's' comeback through two videos on its social media channels. In the first, Insúa repeated a phrase that is now part of his legacy. "When I was little I remember my father saying that San Lorenzo had to be defended all day, all the time and in every sphere," the manager stated. "And I plan to honor my father's memory, all the time."
A second one-minute video, shared by the club's official account, mixed images of Insúa walking along Avenida La Plata with scenes from the movie 'Rocky III'. The azulgrana adaptation, dubbed 'RD III', included the protagonist's line asking for "one more fight". Insúa has already analyzed the squad and much of his technical staff observed Saturday's win over Talleres.
What was the team's form before his arrival?
San Lorenzo secured a key 1-0 victory over Talleres last Saturday, detailed La Nación. The goal was scored by Alexis Cuello with a header following a cross from Facundo Farías, who was making his debut for the club. That result, part of a recent run of 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses, helped ease tensions after Gorosito's dismissal.
Walter Perazzo managed the team on an interim basis for that match. The side from Boedo showed nerves and relied on individual talent, but the effectiveness of Cuello's header earned the three points. With this win, El Ciclón keeps its qualification options alive, though it is six points off the last Copa Sudamericana spot. You can follow the team's progress on our stats page.
What is the team's immediate schedule?
Insúa faces a demanding start with two consecutive derbies. His debut in this new cycle will be on September 13th away to Independiente. El Rojo currently occupies fifth place in the table. Afterwards, San Lorenzo will host Boca Juniors at the Pedro Bidegain Stadium.
The technical staff accompanying Insúa will be the same as in his previous stint, with the exception of the fitness coach. Fabián García, Carlos Orsi and Roberto Oste will be his assistants, while Guillermo Cinquetti takes on the PF role. The team will look to improve its record of 3 goals scored and 5 conceded during this initial phase of the championship. The full schedule of fixtures is available in our fixtures section.
What challenges does the new cycle face?
The main challenge is to bring order to a team that has had four managers in the last three months. Internally, the squad assessment by Insúa and his staff concluded there is "material, players to recover and youngsters to develop". The aim is to replicate the growth achieved between 2022 and 2024.
The club's institutional and economic situation adds complexity. San Lorenzo carries a debt exceeding 67 million dollars, according to La Nación's report. On the sporting front, the team needs to pick up points quickly to close the six-point gap to the leaders, Gimnasia La Plata. The next test will be in Avellaneda, where the team will attempt to secure its third win of the season.
