Domínguez keeps Atlético Mineiro grounded despite Copa Sudamericana final against Boca

Some coaches start dreaming about the trophy the moment they book a spot in the final. Eduardo Domínguez is not one of them. The Argentine coach of Atlético Mineiro, whose side knocked out Montevideo City Torque in the second leg of the semifinal of the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana, chose to dial down the excitement as soon as the match ended: there's still plenty of time before anyone should be thinking about Boca.

The final is set for November 21 in Barranquilla, and Domínguez was clear about how he plans to manage the buildup. "We're very happy to be playing the final. We're in a good place mentally, above all. We know how powerful Boca is in my country and across the continent too. We have time to start working on it. We've got a lot of matches ahead of us to already be thinking about the final. It's on November 21, not before. Otherwise we'd be making a mistake. Right now we have to prepare for the match against Flamengo in our league. So we need to take it game by game," the coach explained.

That message is no accident. Atlético Mineiro's schedule doesn't let up: on top of the Sudamericana, the team is fighting in the Brasileirao and has another final on the horizon, the Copa do Brasil. Diving headfirst into November ahead of schedule would be a luxury Domínguez says his team can't afford.

Respect for Boca and the shadow of 2024

Asked about Boca's current form, the coach didn't hold back on the praise. "They have a good coach who's fixed several things and they feel stronger now. They're in a good moment, competing in the league and in the Copa Argentina. With all due respect, we're focused on what we can do. What they can do is their business," he said, making clear that the final will be approached by looking inward rather than dwelling on the opponent.

He was also asked whether this final could serve as a kind of revenge for what happened in 2024, when Atlético Mineiro lost the Libertadores final to Botafogo in Buenos Aires. Domínguez played down the drama: "It's very hard to win the final if you don't even get there. As everyone says, we got here in a very consistent way, in the Copa do Brasil and fighting to finish among the top three in the Brasileirao. I'm happy with this group. This isn't a revenge match for what happened in 2024, it's a different match, a different opportunity. And we're going to give our best effort to win the trophy."

To wrap up, the coach reflected on the squad's collective mindset as it fights on three fronts at once. "I'd highlight the mentality of the group and the players. They're competing in three tournaments and we're trying to give our maximum. We're in another Copa do Brasil final and we're competitive. We'll try to give our best effort so the fans feel satisfied. There are always things to fix, now and later, but the strength of this group is something special," Domínguez concluded.