Cerro Porteño suffered a tough setback against Sportivo Trinidense in the penultimate round of the 2026 Apertura Tournament, leaving only the fight for the runner-up spot. The performance worried the fans, but coach Ariel Holan came out in defense of his strategy and made a blunt analysis of the club's situation.
For Holan, the game was decided in specific moments that the team could not manage emotionally. Despite a promising start, Trinidense's goals were lethal. “The goal took us out of the game for a few minutes, and in the second half, right at the start, we conceded the second. They were key moments that emotionally impacted the development of the game,” he said.
One of the most frequent questions was why he risked the starters before the decisive Libertadores clash against Palmeiras. Holan was direct: “We ended up tired, but we also need to train. Sometimes the best way is to train by playing.”
The coach drew a clear line between domestic and international performance. “The results in the championship were not good; in the Cup, on the contrary. It's not easy to win in Colombia or beat Junior. The group is tough, and the team is handling it well,” he said.
Holan also made an indirect criticism of the previous management, under Jorge Bava, by revealing that he found the squad physically “split.” “There is a lot of disparity in physical conditions and many injured players, which limits options. Playing in the Cup and the Championship is not easy in South America, especially given the reality we found,” he explained.
Despite the turbulence, the focus is on the Libertadores. With a guaranteed spot in the Copa Sudamericana round of 32, Holan wants more: “The big goal is to qualify for the Libertadores round of 16. In the two remaining games, we hope to have the squad as well-prepared as possible.”