Veron’s words on the eve of the final sum up exactly what it means for South Americans to win the continent’s most prestigious club tournament. For Veron the clash means even more than for most; Veron’s dad Juan Roman or La Bruja was part of that bustling, powerful Estudiantes team that won three on the spin. For Veron junior, known as La Brujita, winning the Copa Libertadores whilst wearing the same colours his father wore 40 years ago would represent the defining moment of what is already an admirable career.

I always wonder about Juan Sebastien Veron’s position in terms of the modern greats of football. Where exactly does he stand? Before his move to Manchester United in 2001 he was considered one of the world’s greatest players on the back of a quite majestic spell in Italy. There, for Parma and Lazio in particular, his vision, awareness, technique and wonderful range of passing set him apart from almost any other player in the game.

And while it did not quite work out at United and later Chelsea, Veron still won a league title in England. It was also more in European football, playing in the Champions League, that he proved his immense creative talents had far from deserted him. Indeed since leaving England Veron’s style has even been cited as a precursor to the sophisticated way in which United play their football today. Nonetheless, Veron’s star waned somewhat over these years, and it was no real surprise therefore when the current South American Footballer of the Year chose to return to Argentina at 31.

Since returning to his boyhood club Estudiantes in 2006, Los Pincharratas as they are known have won a league title, reached the final of the Copa Sudamericana and now face their biggest challenge – a Copa Libertadores final. And a large part of that has been down to Veron. He is the main man in this team, the creative fulcrum, the driving force. Estudiantes would not have made it to this stage without both his leadership and playing skills.

His absence in the semi-final second leg in Montevideo against Nacional only served to accentuate the differences in Estudiantes as a team with and without Veron. Though they emerged 2-1 winners, the performance was jaded and disjointed, lacking the cohesion La Brujita brings to the table so nonchalantly. Though he carries a knock into the first leg against Cruzeiro, Veron’s will still be the first name on Alejandro Sabella’s teamsheet.

Having said that Estudiantes do have other players. Mariano Andujar has performed so well in goal that he has battled his way to winning the number one shirt for Maradona’s Argentina. Marcos Angeleri is a warrior-like defender coveted by many top clubs in Europe, Inter Milan rumoured to be one. Mauro Boselli’s goals make the former Boca man this year’s top scorer in the Copa Libertadores. So for Cruzeiro it is not simply a case of just keeping Veron quiet. Los Pinchas have several quality players.

That said, so do Cruzeiro.

Kleber, for one. Though something of an enigma, not to mention a man with a very bad temper, Kleber is strong and gifted and will doubtless cause Estudiantes’ back four problems if he can keep his composure. Those who watched Brazil in the recent Confederations Cup in South Africa will also be aware of the talented attacking midfielder Ramires, who plays his final few games in the blue of Cruzeiro before leaving for Benfica.

Cruzeiro sailed through the group stages on their way to the final, but they do not have the best of records in Argentina. Up to now they have played Argentinian opposition away 38 times, with 9 wins, 5 draws and 24 defeats. Their record in finals against Argentine teams is also mixed. In 1976 they won the competition by beating River Plate (thanks to a playoff, the decider was played in Chile). The following year however A Raposa lost in the final to Boca Juniors on penalties.

The legendary Tim Vickery recently described this year’s Copa Libertadores as ‘mediocre’ and to some extent he is right. Some of the football has been awful, particularly during the quarter final stages, and two last sixteen ties didn’t even go ahead, cancelled after Mexican teams Chivas Guadalajara and San Luis withdrew because of prolonged arguments over the swine flu outbreak.

However, the two best teams have rightly made it to the final. Cruzeiro and Estudiantes have consistently performed well over the course of the competition, playing attractive football, and both are in good form. It should be an exciting clash. And with the first leg to be played in La Plata, Estudiantes, with their impressive home record, have a real chance to take the first step towards their fourth title. For Juan Sebastien Veron, his dream may be about to become a reality.

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