Carlos Tevez will not be finishing his debut season at Independiente with silverware. Having kept the Rojo near the top of Group A throughout almost the entire Copa de la Liga campaign, the ex-Boca Juniors, Manchester City and Argentina ace saw his reformed side run out of gas in the final weeks, eventually missing out on goal difference after a 3-2 defeat to Talleres in their last game.
But despite that disappointment, the future looks rosy for both Tevez and Independiente after he exceeded all expectations following his arrival on the red side of Avellaneda.
The ex-Argentina striker took the reins at a club in dire straits, battling relegation and having won just six Liga Profesional games in the first half of 2023. He immediately steered them away from the drop zone and into contention, while also overseeing a brilliant away derby victory at Racing Club which drew the curtain on former Boca team-mate Fernando Gago's own stay in Avellaneda. And one former Rojo favourite, who knows Carlitos better than most, liked what he saw.
“Carlitos had the courage to take on the main squad in troubled times, you’ve got to give him that,” ex-City star and now Stake.com ambassador Sergio Agüero told the Buenos Aires Times when asked about his long-time national team colleague. “He handled the pressure well and recovered players that played a key role in the comeback – he's also made some bets on players that hadn't seen the limelight until his arrival.”
Agüero continued: “Tevez has got history in the biggest clubs of the world, and he was able to get through to the team on the significance of being part of Independiente. The change in fortunes has been impressive and Independiente now looks to play a leading part across all tournaments.”
Carlitos' impressive start is set to be rewarded, with reports suggesting a three-year contract is now in the works at the Rojo. There have been false dawns for the club before, though, who last won the Primera División title in 2002 and endured a hellish last 12 months that included the removal of two presidents, financial crisis and more defeats than they would care to remember. They remain a long way from the glory days of the 1970s and 80s and the seven Copas Libertadores victories that is still a record, to the eternal chagrin of rivals Boca.
Agüero for one pleads patience with Tevez and the current Rojo administration, now headed by former Lanús mayor and unsuccessful opposition candidate for governor of Buenos Aires Province, Néstor Grindetti.“It's a reconstruction process,” he underlined. “For the club and the fans, who have shown unwavering support, I hope they continue this path.”
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