Marked for Hans Salinas
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad23 Nov 2026
Walter Bou in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at O'Higgins this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad23 Nov 2026
Words at O'Higgins training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Hans Salinas is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
The dugout23 Nov 2026
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
The dugout23 Nov 2026
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
The dugout23 Nov 2026
Hans Salinas knocks on the manager's door
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at O'Higgins, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Market23 Nov 2026
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. O'Higgins know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
Back issues
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market2 Nov 2026
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Squad2 Nov 2026
Walter Bou was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Market2 Nov 2026
Joaquín Tapia has one foot out of the door
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around O'Higgins they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Squad2 Nov 2026
Words at O'Higgins training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Hans Salinas is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
The dugout2 Nov 2026
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
The dugout2 Nov 2026
Ignacio Schor gets picked when it counts
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Ignacio Schor is on it.
Market2 Nov 2026
“They were honest with me, and I would rather know.” Bryan Rabello has been informed he is not in the manager's thinking at O'Higgins.
Squad2 Nov 2026
The captaincy has been taken off Bastián Yáñez. O'Higgins will call it a decision about the team; a dressing room reads it as a verdict on a man.
The dugout2 Nov 2026
He asked about his future and was given an answer with minutes in it. The manager has now made a promise in a building where promises are remembered, and the clock on it has started.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market19 Oct 2026
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what O'Higgins can pretend not to have heard.
Squad19 Oct 2026
Walter Bou and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Squad19 Oct 2026
Alan Robledo falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
The dugout19 Oct 2026
The manager makes an example of Leandro Díaz
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
The dugout19 Oct 2026
Walter Bou has become a man the manager trusts
Nobody at O'Higgins will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.
The dugout19 Oct 2026
“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad12 Oct 2026
Words exchanged at O'Higgins
Walter Bou and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Squad12 Oct 2026
Hans Salinas falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
The dugout12 Oct 2026
Hans Salinas gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
The dugout12 Oct 2026
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
The dugout12 Oct 2026
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at O'Higgins, and both men came out saying it was fine.
The dugout12 Oct 2026
Nothing in writing and nothing in public: a word about playing time, given face to face at O'Higgins. The team sheets over the next month will show whether it was worth having.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad5 Oct 2026
Walter Bou was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Market5 Oct 2026
Joaquín Tapia has one foot out of the door
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around O'Higgins they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Squad5 Oct 2026
A row about effort at O'Higgins
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and David Fernández was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The dugout5 Oct 2026
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Thiago Vecino, and the manager let it.
Squad5 Oct 2026
The manager has re-ordered his thinking and Martín Maturana has come out of it lower. He will be told it is temporary, and the players who have heard that before will avoid his eye.
The dugout5 Oct 2026
Ignacio Schor gets picked when it counts
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Ignacio Schor is on it.
The dugout5 Oct 2026
Hans Salinas asks for a word with the manager
“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.
The dugout5 Oct 2026
The manager makes Leandro Díaz a promise
Nothing in writing and nothing in public: a word about playing time, given face to face at O'Higgins. The team sheets over the next month will show whether it was worth having.
Market5 Oct 2026
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Ignacio Schor signs something — a contract at O'Higgins or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad21 Sep 2026
Walter Bou and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
The dugout21 Sep 2026
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Squad21 Sep 2026
A row about effort at O'Higgins
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Hans Salinas was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Squad21 Sep 2026
Joaquín Muñoz has had enough of the bench
“I did not come here to warm up in front of people.” He is out of contract eventually, he is old enough to count the weeks, and O'Higgins will have to give him a reason to stay or an exit.
The dugout21 Sep 2026
Walter Bou has become a man the manager trusts
Nobody at O'Higgins will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.
Squad21 Sep 2026
The formation has left Diego Aravena behind
Every shape has positions in it and this one does not have his. O'Higgins will either change the shape, change his job, or change his club, and he is waiting to hear which.
Market21 Sep 2026
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Luis Pavez Muñoz signs something — a contract at O'Higgins or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
The dugout21 Sep 2026
He asked about his future and was given an answer with minutes in it. The manager has now made a promise in a building where promises are remembered, and the clock on it has started.
Market21 Sep 2026
O'Higgins shop where it costs nothing
Diego Aravena signs, and the fee column stays empty. Deals like this look small in July and clever by March — or they are never mentioned again.
From our football correspondent
Upbeat
Player ratings31 Aug 2026
Successful dribbles: 36. There was always a defender in front of him and there was never a defender in front of him for long.
Market31 Aug 2026
Bryan Rabello hands in a written request
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what O'Higgins can pretend not to have heard.
Squad31 Aug 2026
Walter Bou in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at O'Higgins this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Match29 Aug 2026
Beaten 0‑1, and beaten fairly. The manager kept his words short afterwards, which was probably wise.
Squad31 Aug 2026
A row about effort at O'Higgins
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Hans Salinas was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The dugout31 Aug 2026
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Martín Sarrafiore, and the manager let it.
Squad31 Aug 2026
Too much change too quickly at O'Higgins
15 signings in three months. Every one of them may be an upgrade and the team can still be worse for a while, which is the part of a rebuild that never appears in the transfer-window verdicts.
The dugout31 Aug 2026
“We were not good enough today and I am not going to dress it up.” Cristian Valencia after 0‑1, in the tone of a man who knows the next question and does not intend to answer it.
The dugout31 Aug 2026
Miguel Brizuela has become a man the manager trusts
Nobody at O'Higgins will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.