Boca Juniors will kick off their Club World Cup journey with the understanding that their prospects of progressing to the knockout rounds hinge significantly on their performances against Europe’s elite, according to coach Miguel Angel Russo on Sunday.
The Argentine side is set to clash with Benfica at the Hard Rock Stadium on Monday, a day after Bayern Munich dispatched Auckland City with a staggering 10-0 scoreline in another Group C encounter.
“Bayern’s opponents (Auckland City) are semi-professional, and I don’t mean to undermine them. Bayern and Benfica operate on an entirely different level,” Russo, who has embarked on his third spell as Boca head coach, remarked during a press conference.
When queried about Boca’s chances of making it into the knockout rounds of the 32-team tournament, Russo remained focused on the immediate task at hand.
“What’s important is tomorrow’s match; we aren’t looking beyond that,” he stated.
“We understand that in the next week, we’ll play three matches, but the first one is crucial. Benfica is one of the great clubs in Europe.”
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Boca can expect significant backing from their fans, with Miami bustling with supporters from Argentina.
“Our supporters have always made a difference; they’ve been a constant presence throughout the club’s history,” Russo remarked, while also contemplating whether former Uruguay international Edinson Cavani, who has been managing some injuries, will feature in the starting lineup.
“We’re taking it one day at a time with Cavani,” he added.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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