Sabella ponders Estudiantes future
Reuters - Wednesday 02 February 2011, 19:56
BUENOS AIRES - Argentine champions
Estudiantes' coach Alex Sabella told the club on Wednesday he
was thinking of resigning, 10 days before the start of the
Clausura championship, sports daily Ole reported.
"I've stepped to one side, but I'm going to think about it,"
Sabella told Ole. No-one at Estudiantes was available to
comment.
Former midfielder Sabella, who steered the club to their
fourth South American Libertadores Cup in 2009 and this season's
Apertura title in December, said he would decide on Thursday if
he was going ahead with his plan to quit the club.
He told Ole players and directors had tried to persuade him
to stay "so I told them I would take time until tomorrow to give
them my reply."
Dozens of fans turned up at Estudiantes' training complex in
a La Plata city suburb to try to persuade Sabella to stay.
Media said he was unhappy with the club's lack of response
to his request for another defender and striker to strengthen a
squad facing the double challenge of defending their Argentine
title and playing the Libertadores Cup.
Estudiantes, captained by Juan Sebastian Veron whom the club
hope will persuade Sabella to stay, are at home to Newell's Old
Boys on February 11 in their opening Clausura match.
The day had begun badly for Estudiantes when goalkeeper
Agustin Orion was mugged on his way to training. He had his car
stolen and was left by the side of the motorway.
"They put a revolver against my chest, it was very nasty,"
Orion was quoted as saying by Ole.