Matko Miljevic said Racing need to lean on character and personality if they want to get the ball and control their visit to Independiente Rivadavia on Sunday at 21.30 in Mendoza. The midfielder spoke to Racing's official site before the match, using a clear message to frame a game that comes with real pressure for the club.
Racing entered the trip still searching for a response in the Torneo Clausura. The team had gone five matches without a win, with three defeats and two draws, and was sitting in antepenultimate place in Zone B. That backdrop makes the meeting with Independiente Rivadavia more than just another league game. Racing need points, and they need them soon.
Miljevic's message before the trip
Miljevic's comments were direct. He said Racing were coming "de menor a mayor" and stressed that the team must have "carácter" and "personalidad" to take the ball and play the way the coach wants. He also said the squad can make mistakes, but the emphasis from Juan Pablo Vojvoda has been on having personality, linking passes and combining as a unit.
That approach fits the way Miljevic has settled into the team under Vojvoda. During Gustavo Costas's era, he alternated between the bench and the starting lineup. In the semester under Juan Pablo Vojvoda, he started all eight Racing matches, including six in the Torneo Clausura and two in the Copa Argentina. The continuity has clearly helped him find rhythm.
Racing's recent form and lineup changes
Miljevic also said the team had a strong week of training and feels solid heading into Mendoza. Racing are expected to make four changes from the 0-0 draw with Boca, a sign that the club is still trying to find the right balance after a run of uneven results.
There is also a bigger picture beyond the league table. Miljevic said Racing are still alive in the Copa Argentina and are three matches away from the title. That gives the squad another route to something important, even if the league form has been slow to improve.
For Miljevic, the situation is also personal. He said he is very happy now after a difficult start marked by off-field issues, and that he has found mental and emotional stability. He added that he is happy to come to training and play, especially at home in the Cilindro, but also made clear that Racing's standards remain high.
"We're in a big team, we have to back that up with results because Racing demand it," Miljevic said. That is the reality facing the club in Mendoza: a long winless run, a need for points, and a midfielder asking for the kind of character that can help turn pressure into a result.
