Universitario Concluded the Apertura Tournament

Universitario finished fourth in the standings with 26 points in the Apertura Tournament. The team did not have a good start to the year, but the arrival of Pedro Troglio gave them a new spark. They started strong and seemed to intimidate their opponents, but in key matches, 'Rulo' couldn't figure out how to win and they ended up dropping points, which ultimately cost them.

Last night, against Cantolao, it was once again demonstrated that Universitario is still that gritty team that fights until the end and refuses to lose. With 9 men (expulsion of Jhon Galliquio and Arquimides Figuera), the team made a comeback and won 2-1, with a brace from Luis 'Pana' Tejada. Far from the technical area, Pedro Troglio was in a cabin, watching what his boys were doing on the field. 'Rulo' redefined his tactics, ended up defending with Horacio Benincasa and Juan Manuel Vargas, the 'Pana' as the only forward, and the rest had to support in defense. Not an easy task for a team that saw their opponent constantly pressuring them.

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Pedro Troglio has made it clear that his playing style is to pressure the opponent, force them into errors, subdue them, and make them desperate, but he still hasn't managed to decipher how to handle the players' anxiety, how to stay calm and hold onto the result. Universitario, in many matches, like the draw at the end against Sporting Cristal, didn't know how to seal the victory or protect their advantage. Perhaps that's what the Merengue fans demand. That is 'Rulo's' new mission for the Clausura if he wants to compete for the national title at the end of the year.

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