Key meeting between executives and Restrepo in the midst of Alianza Lima crisis.

Last Thursday afternoon, a meeting was held between the top executives of Alianza Lima and coach Alejandro Restrepo, in the midst of a challenging moment for the blanquiazul team which has suffered three consecutive defeats in the championship. The meeting, attended by Diego Guerrero, the club's administrator, and Bruno Marioni, in charge of the sports area, aimed to discuss the areas for improvement to reverse the negative streak. In this context, Restrepo was questioned in a press conference about his impressions of the last game and his continuity in charge of the team, to which the strategist only spoke about the football aspect and avoided addressing his possible departure. The sports area made it clear that a third consecutive defeat was not foreseen and that, if it were to happen, the coach's tenure would be evaluated. It is important to note that Alianza Lima had not suffered a streak of three consecutive defeats since the beginning of the 2022 Apertura Tournament, when they lost to Alianza Atlético, Sporting Cristal, and Melgar. On the other hand, beyond the adverse results, a concern for the team is the refereeing. The sports area officials feel they have been disadvantaged on several occasions and believe that the rules are not being applied equitably. With five expulsions in eight matches, including key players like Franco Saravia, Adrián Arregui, and Hernán Barcos, the club has expressed their displeasure at what they consider unequal treatment by the referees. The controversy escalated after the match against Cienciano, where a foul that could have led to the expulsion of an opposing player was not penalized. Faced with this situation, players such as Zambrano, Arregui, and Rodríguez publicly expressed their support for Restrepo and his coaching staff after the defeat against Cienciano. In a press conference, they voiced their discontent with the refereeing and stated that it would be unfair for the coaching staff to be dismissed due to the sporting results. Amidst uncertainty over the results and criticism of the refereeing, Alianza Lima seeks to maintain internal cohesion and focus on working to improve their performance on the field, trusting in Restrepo and his team's ability to turn the current situation around.