The technical director of River Plate, Marcelo Gallardo, expressed his satisfaction with the performance of his players in the 4-1 victory over Vélez. He highlighted that he was very pleased with what his team accomplished and emphasized the level shown in the first half, praising the connections, the prominence, and the decisiveness against a rival that proposed an even match.
Following this result, River secured their qualification in second place in zone B with 31 points, which will allow them to compete in the round of 16 of the 2025 Apertura Tournament against Barracas Central. Gallardo mentioned that he hopes to adequately recover his players to maintain the good footballing moment and face the next match against Barcelona in Guayaquil for the Copa Libertadores in the best possible way.
Regarding individual performance, the coach praised the performances of Sebastián Driussi and Ignacio Fernández. In the case of the forward, Gallardo expressed his conviction in starting him despite possible criticism, highlighting that it is this insistence that allows individuals to stand out in the collective. Regarding the experienced midfielder "Nacho" Fernández, the coach praised his mentality, his constant desire to compete, and to earn a place in the team from the very first minute of training.
In the second half of the match, Gallardo acknowledged that Vélez improved in the first 15 minutes, which complicated the adaptation of his players, although the rain and the enthusiasm of the fans did not significantly affect his team's performance. Finally, Gallardo requested that the round of 16 match of the Apertura Tournament against Barracas Central be scheduled for Monday, May 12, to provide adequate rest for his players after the Copa commitment.
