Buenos Aires, November 16 (NA) – River Plate's head coach, Marcelo Gallardo, was involved in a tense exchange with a journalist following the goalless draw against Vélez. The match, covered by the Argentine News Agency, was for the 16th round of the Clausura Tournament.
The incident occurred at the end of the press conference when a journalist asked Gallardo if he holds the same high standards for himself and the players as he did during his first cycle at River.
In response to the query, Gallardo stated: "Are you seriously asking me that? Do you really think not? We have to keep betting on work, on recovering that lost memory, and now try again to see if we are in a position to make it to the end."
Regarding his situation, he emphasized that "I have to try to keep my head as serene as possible, because I have to put in and take out players, and that makes it very difficult because we understand that we cannot find that sweet spot."
He continued: "When things are not going well, there is no choice but to face it head-on… We are not going to pretend that overnight we will become a marvel because that is not going to happen."
Gallardo, who also stressed that "I am not going to give up until I figure it out," referred to the Paraguayan defender Paulo Díaz and the Colombian forward Miguel Ángel Borja, who were not called up for this match: "They are all technical decisions."
At the beginning of the press conference, "Muñeco" acknowledged that "everything costs more, and within that context, we have to keep trying. You are not going to come and tell me if I am demanding of myself. Wanting to generate that doubt, no. This is going to turn around," and added: "We are going through this negative moment that can also attract a lot of things. I take responsibility for the team's performance."
