Universitario vs Alianza Lima: Marko Ciurlizza spoke about the classic and the style of play of the 'intimates'

Alianza Lima will visit Universitario de Deportes this Sunday, April 17 as part of the 10th date of the 2022 League 1 Apertura Tournament. The Monumental Stadium will be the scene of this duel, where the 'blue and whites' will seek to win to get out of the hole they are in. In that sense, Marko Ciurlizza gave his opinion on the team's style of play, rescuing that he has elements for another proposal.

“I think Alianza has players to play differently. For example, with 'teacher' Bengoechea he was told that he had to play differently, but then the results came and how do you question that. In this case, the results are not being given and it is time for the coach to look for other options to boost some players and go hand in hand with the results”, commented the former player in an interview conducted by 'Los Renegrones'.

Indeed, the 'intimate' cast hired Pablo Bengoechea as coach between 2017 and the beginning of 2020 with a game idea quite far removed from the club's history. And it is that he emphasized defensive strength, looking for the center forward with long balls and backlashes. His fans did not like this, but he achieved great results: he was national champion in 2017 and runner-up in 2018 and 2019.

With Miguel Ángel Russo they tried to return to their origins, but it didn't work either. The same thing happened with Mario Salas and Daniel Ahmed. However, with Carlos Bustos they managed to win the Liga 1 title last year despite having formed a squad to play in Liga 2 because of the TAS issue and the cancelled relegation. In this case, the proposal was more oriented to verticality.

However, for this occasion, the 'Victorians' have elements to play at ground level such as Jairo Concha, Josepmir Ballón, Pablo Lavandeira, Cristian Benavente or Hernán Barcos himself, who on more than one occasion has demonstrated his qualities, not only in the definition, but also in the elaboration and construction of the game.

FAVORITE FOR THE CLASSIC

On the other hand, Ciurlizza announced his preference for Alianza Lima to win the classic. “Beyond giving a result, I wholeheartedly wish Alianza to win. The classics always have to be won by them because they are commanded by the rival, the history, the fans and the players. To give a result, whatever it is I would like Alianza to win because as a fan I lived football and I always said “against the 'U' we can't lose” because the story and the shirt send it. The 'U' thing is totally different, another sensation,” said the three-time national champion with the 'cream' box in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

He also rescued that a victory at Monumental will favor the team in order to lift spirits and performance ahead of what is next in the local championship and Copa Libertadores. “Winning a classic is the most beautiful thing in the world. I hope they win it because it will do the squad, the players and the technical team good to work calmly ahead of what is coming,” said the fellow champion with the 'blue and white' in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2006.

ANECDOTE WITH 'INTIMATE' LEADER

Finally, 'Markinho' revealed the conversation he had with an 'intimate' leader. “Entering the history of the club is priceless. When I arrived, a leader told me “Marko, you would never have to leave Alianza because you rejected a possibility of being an idol on the front side”. I mean, I had everything to be an idol with the 'U', but beyond the best that Alianza gave me at that time in many respects, I gave up that because I came to the team that I loved when I was very young. I arrived with the only desire to be champion, I succeeded four times and having that love from people is worthless”, he concluded.

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