Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro is in the spotlight this week between harsh external criticism and the start of a new internal cycle. Former Brazilian footballer Paulo Silas expressed his pessimism about the future of his country's national team and referred with pain to the Cyclone's situation, as reported by La Nación. Meanwhile, Rubén Darío Insua has already begun his third stint in charge of the team with extensive work sessions, as detailed by Olé.
What did Paulo Silas say about San Lorenzo and Brazil?
In an interview with ESPN Brasil, former midfielder Paulo Silas, 61, was blunt in assessing the current state of his country's football. "We are never going to be champions again," he stated about the team managed by Carlo Ancelotti. Silas, who played in Argentine football, also referred to San Lorenzo. The analyst confessed that tears come to his eyes when he sees the current crisis the Boedo club is going through. His statements reflect an outside pessimistic view of the institution.
Silas argued that Brazilian football's problem is structural and "comes from the bottom." He criticized the local league for being filled with foreigners who, in his view, "are blocking the kids" who should later support the national team. He used Gremio as an example, a club that has 13 foreign players. "Before, with Havelange, we had strength inside and out, and today nowhere," he compared, showing his disappointment with the current direction of Brazilian football.
How did Rubén Darío Insua begin his third stint?
Rubén Darío Insua began his work at the Ciudad Deportiva training ground with two training sessions lasting approximately three hours each. According to Olé's report, the coach did not focus exclusively on physical aspects but also emphasized tactical issues from the first moment. Insua aims to shape a compact team that does not concede space and is strong in the defensive phase. The squad currently occupies 14th place in the Liga Profesional standings, with 7 points after seven games.
The Gallego faces an immediate challenge with two consecutive derbies. On Sunday, September 13th, they will visit Independiente, who are seventh in the table, and then host Boca Juniors. In his previous cycle, between 2022 and 2024, Insua managed 16 derbies and lost only six. The team arrives with morale after their last 1-0 victory over Talleres, a result that can be checked in the stats detail. However, the overall picture is complex, with only three wins in eight matches.
What tactical changes did Insua test?
In these first practices, Insua's coaching staff has already begun to diagram possible modifications to the scheme. One of the ideas that became visible was testing Uruguayan Guzmán Corujo as a center-back in a back three. This adjustment aims to give the team a different imprint and solve defensive problems. San Lorenzo has conceded 5 goals this season and has a -3 goal difference, data that reflects the need to improve at the back.
Insua will also have to manage a squad with several injury absences. Among the players recovering are Martín Río, Gustavo Del Prete, the youth full-back Nicolás Blanco, and Gonzalo. The complete list of affected players is available on our injuries page. The coach will have his official presentation this Wednesday at noon in a press conference, where he will give more details about his work plan.
What is San Lorenzo's current context in the league?
The Cyclone faces Insua's restart from a complicated position in the local championship. With 7 points, they are 9 units behind leaders Instituto de Córdoba. Their performance has been irregular, with a recent streak of results that includes two wins, one draw, and two losses in the last five matches. The team showed character in their last match, beating Talleres by one goal, but needs to find consistency.
The next test of fire will be on Sunday, September 13th against Independiente in Avellaneda. This match, the first of the Insua era, represents a key opportunity to get three points and close the gap with the cup qualification spots. El Rojo has 12 points, five more than San Lorenzo. The full schedule of what's coming can be reviewed in our fixtures section. The team will travel to Avellaneda to face a direct rival in the table.
