Fresh from securing the Argentine Apertura, Boca Juniors playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme has his sights set on continent-wide success in next year's Copa Libertadores.
Riquelme, 30, already has three Libertadores triumphs with Boca to his name, but that has not quelled his desire to add to his medal collection with a fourth in 2009.
“What is it I want now? First of all, to rest, because this has been a very long year for me. After that, I’m sure we will go about preparing ourselves in the best possible way to win the Copa Libertadores," he stated on Boca's official website.
"I want to win it once again. And, also, to make sure I enjoy all of my successes more from now on."
In addition to winning the Apertura with Boca, Riquelme was also part of the Argentina Olympic squad that won the gold medal in Beijing. With that in mind, he believes that it has been one of the best years of his professional career.
"This year was my best, alongside 2000. In that year we won the Libertadores and the Intercontinental cup for the first time, as well as the local championship.
"This year I was lucky enough to win with the Argentine National Team and with my own club. I cannot ask for any more," he concluded.
Boca Juniors soon to be technical-director, Carlos Bianchi, has identified the position of goalkeeper as the one they really need to strengthen for next year's Copa Libertadores and believes that Getafe custodian Roberto Abbondanzieri could be the man for the role.
Carlos Ischia's side may have secured the Argentine Apertura title, but with young goalkeeper Javier Garcia prone to errors and Mauricio Caranta likely to be sold to the highest bidder in January, the need for an experienced man between the sticks is clear.
Abbondanzieri, 36, would certainly fit the bill. He spent ten years at Boca between 1996 and 2006, and is the keeper favoured by both Bianchi and Ischia, who are certain that his character would have a positive impact on the dressing room, just as his keeping skills would on the pitch.
"Pato" is out of contract in June, so could be available for a knock-down fee in January. However, with only on-loan cover Jacobo Sanz as a replacement, his Spanish employers are likely to want to keep hold of him until at least the end of the season, which could scupper Boca's plans.
Should a deal for Abbondanzieri not materalise, then Boca are also studying other options. Among those is 38 year old Millionairos goalkeeper Óscar Córdoba, who was a vital component of Bianchi's successful side between 1997 and 2001. There are, however, concerns over his recent form and whether a move for him at this stage in his career would be wise.
In addition, Atacante's Federico Vilar - who came up through the Boca youth system but never played for the first team - Paraguayan national goalkeeper Justo Villar, and San Lorenzo's Agustín Orión are also on Boca's rader.
Boca Juniors were crowned Argentine Apertura 2008 champions on Tuesday night, despite going down to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Tigre.
As the three-team playoff for the Apertura came to its conclusion, Tigre knew that they needed to win by two clear goals to overhaul a Riquelme-less Boca and take the title, with San Lorenzo already out of running.
Diego Cagna's team gave it their best shot and took the lead with just over twenty minutes remaining after a terrible mistake from Boca goalkeeper Javier Garcia allowed Leandro Lazzaro to profit.
Garcia had also been at fault from San Lorenzo's goal at the weekend, and was promptly substituted by Boca coach Carlos Ischia, who was clearly keen to avoid the young goalkeeper costing his side the title.
Despite concerted pressure from Tigre in the remaining minutes, and the late sending off of Rodrigo Palacio, Boca were able to hang on, taking the Apertura crown on goal difference to record their 23rd Argentine championship.
"We put in a lot of effort in these last six months, and we have to enjoy it. We worked hard today, like we have all year round, but it was worth it to reach our objective," midfielder Sebastian Battaglia told reporters after the game.
The title triumph comes at the end of a difficult campaign for Boca, who have had to deal with the death of their president Pedro Pompilio and a number of injuries to key players.
"It was a horrible season for us," experienced full-back Hugo Ibarra noted.
"We experienced a lot of injuries, as well as the death of Pedro. We dedicate this championship to his family and memory."
The title represents coach Carlos Ischia's first in charge of Boca, and he looks set to be rewarded with a new contract, according to reports in the Argentine press. He will, however, have Carlos Bianchi - Boca's most successful coach - placed above him in a technical director role in time for the 2009 Clausura.
Boca Juniors ended San Lorenzo's hopes of winning the 2008 Apertura with a 3-1 victory on Saturday that leaves Carlos Ischia's side in pole position for the title ahead of the final playoff game between them and Tigre on Tuesday.
San Lorenzo went into the match knowing that a win would secure them the championship, and had two golden opportunities to take the lead in the first 45 minutes - Nestor Silvera and Gonzalo Bergessio just unable to direct their respective headers on target.
Despite giving up some good chances to their opponents, it was Boca who enjoyed the lions share of first half possession, and it was therefore unsurprisingly when they went ahead in first half stoppage time.
Juan Roman Riquelme whipped in a corner from the left and Lucas Viatri pulled in front of his marker to head home, scoring his eighth goal of the Apertura in the process.
The early exchanges of the second half were conducted with a none too small measure of bite as San Lorenzo attempted to battle their way back into the match, with challenges flying in all across the pitch.
Miguel Angel Russo's side levelled the scores on the hour mark when Boca goalkeeper Javier Garcia allowed Santiago Solari's fairly tame effort to slip through his grasp and into the back of the net.
Boca were rocked by conceding and struggled to re-establish their control of the match in the fifteen or so minutes following the equaliser.
However, with the quality players that Boca have at their disposal, they always carry a goal threat, and it was a superb link-up between two of their most celebrated players that saw them retake the lead with just under quarter of an hour remaining.
Garcia launched a quick counter-attack by punting the ball high up field to Jesus Datolo, who brought the ball down and crossed towards Riquelme at the far post. As the ball dropped, Riquelme cushioned it perfectly into the path of on-rushing substitute Rodrigo Palacio, who finished calmly with his left foot to restore Boca's advantage.
San Lorenzo were clearly rattled and were soon down to ten men when Gaston Aguirre was shown his marching orders after pulling back Palacio for his second yellow of the match.
Bergessio was dismissed with three minutes remaining for dissent, and then San Lorenzo's ambitions of title success were killed once and for all as Cristian Chávez cut inside his marker and fired home from the edge of the area in stoppage time.
Boca will now been seen as favourites to take the title, as they can afford to lose 1-0 against Tigre on Tuesday and still be crowned champions for the 23rd time in their history.
Boca Juniors, San Lorenzo and Tigre will play a mini-tournament to determine the winner of the 2008 Apertura after all three teams won their final day fixtures to finish level on 39 points at the end of the regular campaign.
Boca raced into an early 3-0 lead against Colon at the Bombenera through a double strike from Luciano Figueroa and another from Juan Roman Riquelme inside the opening half an hour.
However, Colon were determined not to lie down to their hosts and produced a spirited fightback as goals either side of half-time from Nicolas Torres and Lucas Valdemarin reduced Boca's lead to one with forty-odd minutes left to play.
Carlos Ischia's side were able to shake off their momentary nervousness to regain control as the half wore on, and finished the match in the ascendency, spurred on by the rampant support of the Boca faithful.
San Lorenzo endured a slightly more techy ending to their game away to Argentinos Juniors. Goalkeeper Agustin Orion was forced to make two good saves in the closing minutes, allowing Miguel Angel Russo's side to maintain the one goal lead they had held since Gonzalo Bergessio's 7th minute opener.
Tigre had been the first side to confirm their three points on the final day as Martin Morel's 14th goal of the campaign took them to a 1-0 victory over Banfield, in a game that finished a minute before San Lorenzo's and ten before Boca's.
Lanus had begun the day as a outside bet to take the title, but with the top three all winning, their 1-0 win over San Martin proved fruitless, as they finished two points off the leading trio in fourth.
The AFA will now be tasked with arranging a triangular tournament to decide the Apertura winners, with matches likely to take place in the eleven days between now and Christmas.
At the other end of the table, River Plate finished bottom of the league for the first time in their history following a 1-1 draw away to Estudiantes on Saturday.
San Lorenzo, Tigre and Boca Juniors will go into the final weekend of the Argentine Apertura level on points at the top of the table after Boca were held to a goalless draw by Gimnasia La Plata on Sunday.
The solitary point for the Xeneize gave their two title rivals the perfect opportunity to draw level, and both took full advantage, although with dramatically differing levels of comfort.
Tigre coach Diego Cagna must have been kissing his side's title ambitions goodbye when they went two goals down inside the opening quarter of an hour away to Rosario Central. However, his side defied convention to produce a remarkable comeback as a Carlos Luna double saw them pull level by half-time and Leandro Lazzaro then added a third in the second half to seal the three points.
San Lorenzo had a much smoother ride as they crushed Independiente 4-1 at the Pedro Bidegain in Sunday's late kickoff. Pablo Barrientos scored twice, while Santiago Solari and Gaston Aguirre got one apiece in a superb display from Miguel Angel Russo's side that sees them lead the way on goal difference ahead of the concluding round of games.
Lanus kept their dim hopes of taking the Apertura crown alive with a 2-0 win away to coachless Velez Sarsfield on Friday evening, but will need a miracle on the final day if they are to leapfrog all three of the main contenders from two points adrift.
River Plate's terrible campaign continued with a 2-1 defeat at home to Godoy Cruz that sees Los Millonairos rooted to the bottom of the table, while Nestor Gorosito - rumoured to be taking over at River come the Clausura - steered his Argentinos Juniors side to a 2-2 draw away to Banfield.
Fresh from securing the Argentine Apertura, Boca Juniors playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme has his sights set on continent-wide success in next year's Copa Libertadores.
