Boca Juniors are experiencing their duel between the anger of the fans, Riquelme's anger, and the poor level of the players.

A couple separating, the death of a family member, or the closure of the factory or business where one worked all their lives. This is how this sporting moment feels for Boca Juniors, arguably the biggest club in Argentina; the most popular, without a doubt. It's a period of grief. And all grief has five stages: "It can't be," denial; "Why me?" , anger; "If only I had done something different..." , negotiation; "We can't go on like this" , depression; "There's no other option, we have to keep going" , acceptance. And that will be the first step toward reversing this black hole Boca fell into on February 25 after losing to Alianza Lima and continues in a free fall that, for now, has yet to reach its bottom. Was it the defeat against Atlético Tucumán? Or is there still more suffering to come in Boca's year?

The truth is that the team now led by Miguel Ángel Russo suffered another disappointment and was eliminated from the Copa Argentina in the round of 32. They lost the chance to fight for a title that also grants a ticket to the 2026 Copa Libertadores. Qualification for the top continental competition also became a dark shadow that threatens to overshadow everything. Since the 2023 final at the Maracaná, Boca Juniors has not played in the tournament. However, it must also be said that they currently sit third in the annual Liga Profesional standings, a position that—if maintained—would allow them to advance to the group stage.

1- Denial. Boca's fundamental problem lies in not recognizing that it has a problem. According to a survey conducted by Clarín.com , the person primarily responsible for the team's current form is its president, Juan Román Riquelme . An exquisite player, the club's greatest idol, and the most voted-for president in history. "Having power is having people love you," Román had said during the campaign. After the elimination against Independiente in the Apertura Tournament, chants against "The Commission" were heard from a section of the middle audience, and there were even whistles in Santiago del Estero. Many people's patience is running out. They have gone 10 games without a win, and their period without a title will reach two years and nine months if they win the current Clausura.

Riquelme has a lot to review in his six years at the helm of the Football Council (four as vice president and two as the highest authority). Forty-six players were signed during his tenure, and there's a wide range of players: the high-profile names of Marcos Rojo, Edinson Cavani, and now Leandro Paredes; and others that are difficult to justify, such as Agustín Martegani, Lucas Janson, and Esteban Rolón, who terminated his contract with the club this Thursday. And beyond the assessment of each case, it's true that Riquelme no longer plays, but no one can deny that he's the squad's main playmaker.

2- Anger. In Santiago del Estero, Riquelme reportedly had another intervention in front of the squad. He had already done so with Sebastián Battaglia (that sequence in which he made the players get off the bus) and with Diego Martínez. According to reports, in the locker room at the Madre de Ciudades, the Boca Juniors president confronted the players: "Whoever wants to leave, let me know now. The doors are open."

The squad's level isn't good. You can see the terror of some players when they have the ball: no one takes risks, no one wants to go forward, no one wants to dribble, no one wants to shoot at goal. No one takes charge. Leandro Paredes played a game and a half, and immediately had to take control of the ball, but when he raises his head and no one shows up, he gets exasperated and passes it to the side. Boca Juniors is a slow and predictable team.

3- Negotiation. If Cavani's goal against Alianza Lima had gone in, if Otamendi's header had gone wide, if only the team had managed a win against Auckland City, even if only by one or two goals. Conjectures are useless: reality is what it is, not what Boca wants it to be. It has one point in its favor: the team was competitive against powerhouses like Benfica and Bayern Munich. But the return to Argentina brought with it the same old "vices," the ones Russo seemed to have eradicated from the squad.

Because now Carlos Palacios is once again in the spotlight for his constant acts of indiscipline; because Marcos Rojo remains on the roster, hanging on, as does Sergio Romero, and that makes the locker room atmosphere unhealthy. Why didn't they terminate their contracts if they don't want them to wear Boca's shirt again? Why do they stay on the squad? Why did Frank Fabra play?

4- Depression. It's true, this can't continue. They're 11th in Zone A of the Clausura with two points (the top eight qualify for the playoffs), and playing like this makes it hard to imagine any scenario in which Boca Juniors could offer a smile. But on their side of the ball, they can't play any worse, so all they have to do is improve. And if Platense, who finished sixth and later won the Apertura, could do it, why can't Boca?

5- Acceptance. "We have to do some serious self-criticism," said Chicho Serna this Thursday, the only voice raised publicly from Boca Predio after the embarrassment in Santiago del Estero. Of course, you can lose—everyone does—but it's being described that way because of the "form and manner"—Russo's catchphrase—of the team's performance. He still has time to turn it around.