Fricson George: Barcelona SC should have been more pungent and malicious; elimination is to understand what needs to be improved

“A person with the characteristics of the Mad (Jonatan Álvez)”, Fricson George said this Wednesday when EL UNIVERSO spoke with him and asked him about the reasons for the elimination of Barcelona Sporting Club from the Copa Libertadores, in a penalty shootout, against América Mineiro, in the prelude to the group stage.

George expanded his point of view: “Barcelona lacked more drive in the last 15 minutes of the game. He had to look for the forwards or the elements that were projected to attack with centers, because with the ball on the floor it was normal for them to lose because the spaces were closed. Perhaps with balls it was possible to take advantage of the rival’s confusion at the moment in which he was going to reject. I think he lacked being more pungent and more malicious” to Barcelona SC.

South American Cup

The defender from Esmeralda, champion of Ecuador with Barcelona in 1995 and 1997, and part of the Canarian team that, under the command of Rubén Darío Insúa, reached the final of the Libertadores in 1998, complemented his opinion on the causes of the goodbye cupbearer of the yellows with this reflection: “A person is missing from the characteristics of the Mad (Jonatan Álvez, Cup semifinalist in 2017 with the Canaries). That rebellion of not giving up a ball was missing, of collaborating with the brand is what Barcelona needs today to play in the South American”.

Is it a failure not to reach the group stage and be eliminated on home court by an opponent with little international tradition? George was asked. “It was not a failure. It would have been like that if the team dominated him, cornered him on his goal or thrashed him, but this elimination of Barcelona was on penalties”, he commented.

At the end George made a couple of recommendations to his club: “Let’s remember that América Mineiro closed well behind and sought to score on the counterattack; The Brazilian team also has its merit. This is yet another defeat, but we have to get up as the national tournament is also very important and Barcelona must defend its leadership. This stumble is to understand what needs to be improved, not to stay in regrets”. (D)