Rubén Darío Insúa compared his return to San Lorenzo de Almagro to his 2022 cycle and stated the present situation is more complex. The manager made these comments during a visit to the studios of the partisan programme La Cicloneta, ahead of the match against Estudiantes de La Plata.
"It's a different moment to 2022, today it's more complex," said Insúa. The coach, born near the Viejo Gasómetro and a former player for the club, explained his view from the outside over the last three years. "In the last three years, looking from the outside, I think very complex things happened and some even serious," he added.
Insúa referred to the institutional turmoil that followed the 2023 elections, where Marcelo Moretti won and later extended his contract, only to dismiss him months later. The president was caught in a hidden camera incident and then took a leave of absence, leading the Board of Directors to declare a lack of leadership on two occasions. A transitory commission was formed without judicial intervention, in what those close to the club describe as a series of events "almost science fiction".
The deterioration of relationships within the club is noticeable both during matches and in daily life, according to the manager's analysis. Insúa earned his first three points since his return with a 1-0 victory over Deportivo Riestra on 11 October, a win that ended a run of three matches without a win. The team showed greater aggression in individual duels and more attacking volume, while also keeping a clean sheet.
However, the manager was clear in stating that much more is needed to become highly competitive. He also asked for understanding for a fanbase that, in his view, cannot be happy after absorbing so many bad things.
The focus now is on this Saturday's match, 18 October, against Estudiantes in La Plata, a key duel against a direct rival in the fight to enter the top eight of the tournament. San Lorenzo currently sits tenth in the Liga Profesional Argentina with 14 points after 12 games. Estudiantes are ninth, making the match doubly valuable in the table. Insúa's team arrives with just one win in their last five matches, and their goal will be to improve their goal scoring rate, which currently stands at one goal every 180 minutes, the worst in the championship.
Insúa anticipated that nine players from the match against Riestra will start again. The confirmed absence is Alexis Cuello, who is suspended. The opponent could field an alternate team as they play the second leg of the Copa Libertadores semi-final against Flamengo.
The last meeting between the two, on 3 April this year, ended with a 1-0 victory for San Lorenzo. Insúa's team will look to repeat that result to continue climbing from tenth place, 12 points behind leaders Instituto.
