Gareca to send Velez on the attack

Gareca to send Velez on the attack

Published Jun. 1, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

Velez Sarsfield head coach Ricardo Gareca will send his team out looking to attack as it aims to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Penarol in the Copa Libertadores semi-final second leg.

The Argentinian league leader went down 1-0 in the first meeting in Uruguay last week but Gareca has called on his players to turn things around and stay on course for a shot at lifting the trophy for the second time in the club's history.

He told velezsarsfield.com.ar: "Reaching a Libertadores final is not usual.

"If we win, we'll enter into the history books. We want to make history for this club.''

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He added: "I think we'll take the initiative and try to attack Penarol. They will pressure us too, but we'll have the ball possession.''

Defender Fernando Ortiz wants Velez to become the first team to win both the Argentinian league and the Copa Libertadores in the same season.

"This is an unique opportunity for us,'' he said.

"A few players and teams have this possibility. There are 20 days left and we are close to entering the history books of Argentinian football.''

Penarol midfielder Luis Aguiar is confident his team have what it takes to deny Velez their dream, though.

"If we do our job well, we can get the result we need,'' he said.

"We are approaching this match like all the past ones. We respect Velez a lot.

"The important thing last week was winning with a clean sheet. We did so. The first mission was accomplished. After tomorrow's match, we'll see if the 1-0 win in the first leg was enough.''

Forward Alejandro Martinuccio added: "Velez have the pressure.

"If they watched our past games against Internacional (of Brazil) and Universidad Catolica (of Chile), they know we always score as visitors. Maybe they fear that.''

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