Mauricio Pellegrino is going through his worst streak since arriving at the helm of the University of Chile. He has no margin for error and could be living his last day in charge of the blue team. In fact, today, at the Santa Laura stadium, he is playing for his position against Audax Italiano.
The university team will receive the Italians at 7:00 p.m. and will seek to return to victory. Since July of this year, they have not known joy, specifically since matchday 16, the first of the second round. In detail, eight matches have passed, in which only two draws have been achieved.
In total, the blues have accumulated five points (out of 25 possible) in the second half of the tournament. They went from being in first place to being in twelfth place. They went from an exciting present to a free fall, where a faltering process crumbles and sinks in doubt. In that sense, Pellegrino understands the situation, which even translated into a manifestation by the blue supporters at the CDA, and addressed it.
"It is normal in an institution like the U that after a difficult streak, everything comes into question. The reasons why I am here is because I believe that the boys are giving a lot. I have repeated it many times, there is a great desire to do things well," he said before the match against Audax.
His position is at stake against Audax
The situation is clear. Pellegrino's position is at stake against Audax Italiano. If he loses, he will be fired. Azul Azul will dispense with his services, despite having an agreement until the end of the year.
President Michael Clark had anticipated that they respected the processes at the U: "We have a coach with a valid contract and our spirit is to finish the contracts and I think it's good to fulfill them." However, the coach lost his footing, especially after his criticisms of the concessionaire after the defeat against Deportes Copiapó.
Cecilia Pérez referred to the contractual situation and stated that they have to evaluate what happens against Audax. "We believe that, unlike what has happened in previous years, where there have been four coaches in one season, we must respect the process. But that has to be evaluated step by step. There are matches to be played and the challenge of this Monday against Audax Italiano is important. We go to that match and then we see the analysis that is made," said the director of Azul Azul. In that sense, in the midst of the worst moment of the year, his era is becoming increasingly unsustainable, so a new defeat would prematurely end his time at the university's bench.
Consequences of a possible departure
Pellegrino, who a few months ago was fully supported, is now in an entirely opposite situation. The possible departure of the Argentine would not be without consequences. It would cause changes in different matters, with the footballing aspect being the most evident.
Sebastián Miranda will take over until the end of the year. The former defender will take charge of the university team for the third time. The previous two? Both in 2022. The former Unión Española player arrived at the CDA in 2021 to work in the club's training area, but the poor results put him in charge of the senior squad, although he was first assistant coach during the interim period of Cristián Romero and Esteban Valencia.
The jump would come after the departure of Colombian Santiago Escobar, in April of last year. He obtained two victories and two defeats, and was in charge until the arrival of Uruguayan Diego López, who was also dismissed due to poor results. Miranda was appointed as interim coach again and managed to keep the team in the First Division. In total, he has coached 14 matches, winning five, drawing three, and losing six, achieving a performance of 42.85%.
Pellegrino's dismissal would also bring economic consequences. Azul Azul will have to pay compensation, as the coach has a contract until the end of the year. In detail, they will have to pay a total of 210,000 dollars. Basically, 70,000 per month.
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