IDOL Athletic, the former player Cocito was part of the red-black cast that faced the Libertad for the first time at Liberadores, in 2005, and that reached the great final of the competition also in an unprecedented way.
Owner of most of the competition, the former volante ended up entering the course of the confrontation held in Asuncion, Paraguay, in which Hurricane left with victory by 2 to 1.
Ao OneTwo Sports, Cocito highlights that the Athletico can get along at the Stadium Defenders Del Chaco, this Thursday, because there is a certain "pressure" of the opposing crowd.
"When you face a team with a crowded stadium, it infected the home team, ignites the players and helps a lot. We won't feel pressure this time. Not that it'll be easy, but it could be a fact in favor. Still, the Athletic can't be distracted, can't get into a marasmo. You need to be focused all the time," says the former athlete.
O Libertad is the opponent the Athletic most faced in the Liberators dispute. There were six times in total – two in 2005 and four last year. For the former runner, Hurricane has cast to go through the group stage and reach a third final competition.
"I believe the Athletic has total conditions of reaching one more finale. Whoever's inside the locker room has to have confidence and courage to believe that it's really possible. We hope it's that way. Athletico is a cupeira team, has experience in these disputes," he says.
One of the strengths of the former volante was the strong marking, one of the main features of the Liberators' own dispute.
"Liberators is a very difficult competition, teams have this footprint characteristic. They're teams that never give up. It is the competition to be won here in South America, it is totally different from the Brazilian Championship. The key factor is to make good games inside the house, have strong marking and get the points out," he concludes.
The Athletic goes into the field against the Libertad on Thursday (5), at 21h, at the Stadium Defendors Del Chaco, in Asuncion, Paraguay, for the third round of the stage of Liberators groups. Hurricane is the second position of Group G, with four points.
