Buenos Aires, Feb 11 (NA) -- Coach Diego Martínez spoke bluntly about his time at Boca Juniors, which did not meet his expectations, and his relationship with President Juan Román Riquelme. In an interview with ESPN F90, compiled by the Argentine News Agency (NA) after Huracán's victory over San Lorenzo in the 2026 Apertura Tournament, he gave a concrete assessment of his cycle at the riverside club. When asked about his link with the xeneize president, he was direct: 'He came to training, but perhaps I didn't have the relationship I had imagined and desired for it to flow.' Martínez also especially highlighted his relationship with Marcelo Delgado, then a member of the Football Council: 'I had a great relationship and felt a nice working climate with him.' He also reflected on the learning the experience left him: 'At Boca, I learned to be at a very big club.' In reviewing his cycle, he stated: 'At Boca I was happy, just as I was at all the clubs. What did my time at Boca leave me? We tried to leave a mark, a way to feel the game, to compete well.' Finally, he explained the reasons for his departure: 'After that, the second part was more complex and I felt that the best thing was for us to move on.' He also reaffirmed that idea by stating: 'It wasn't the relationship I wanted and desired with Riquelme, to be honest.' He also marked differences with other leaders: 'With Vega I have a more fluid relationship than with Riquelme, but I had a nice relationship with Marcelo (Delgado).' During his time at Boca, a supposed short circuit with Darío Benedetto was also mentioned, based on the phrase 'Happy nights, sad mornings,' which was attributed to the forward after a training session. Martínez denied any conflict: 'With Pipa I have an excellent relationship, very good, very sincere, we have always been upfront, we have talked about many things.' In part, we achieved what we were looking for when we had time to work. And he defined his methodology: 'We, our technical staff, do not place ourselves in a position of wisdom, of laying down the law, of being participatory, of generating a back-and-forth with the squad. We were able to show our ideas, we achieved it. Being at a very big club and carrying forward an idea.'
