Manager Ariel Holan described Cerro Porteño's historic victory over Palmeiras as “the best possible game in the situation we are in” on Wednesday night at Allianz Parque in São Paulo. The 1-0 win, with a goal from Pablo Vegetti, secured the azulgrana's qualification for the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores.
“The credit goes to them, because I think we played the best possible game against a team that, for me, is the best,” the Argentine said in a press conference. He emphasized the group's tactical and physical commitment, especially given the strain of competing simultaneously in the Paraguayan Championship and the Libertadores.
Holan praised the defensive concentration and collective sacrifice to hold the scoreline. “The great merit was staying focused and being able to counter-attack well. In the second half, we improved our build-up play to relieve pressure, because the stress of defending constantly against this type of player is enormous,” he explained.
The coach also highlighted the support of the fans who traveled to Brazil. “The fans made a huge effort to come and support us. That gives the players a lot of strength,” he said.
Despite the historic result, Holan urged calm. “This only buys time. In football, the result often conditions everything. We want to build a competitive and solid team, so that this is not just a midsummer night's dream,” he reflected.
Regarding Pablo Vegetti, the goal scorer, Holan said the striker is in good form. “As the team improves collectively, he gets better opportunities. In the box, he is a goalscorer,” he added.
The coach also mentioned the performances of Cecilio Domínguez, Freddy Noguera, and Fabricio Domínguez, as well as the sacrifice of players who arrived physically worn out.