River's technical director, Marcelo Gallardo, expressed satisfaction with his players' performance in the 3-2 victory over Barcelona from Ecuador, highlighting the merit of not speculating. Gallardo praised his team's level in the first half, emphasizing the high press and the collective attack.
With this win, River remained at the top of Group B of the 2025 Copa Libertadores and is close to qualifying for the knockout stage. Gallardo valued the importance of the three points, highlighting the unbeaten streak of 13 matches. He emphasized his players' performance in the first half, where they could showcase their characteristic style of play.
The coach mentioned the context of the match, with a heavy atmosphere and high humidity, facing a physically imposing opponent. He highlighted his team's decisiveness and defensive effort in the second half. Gallardo pointed out the lack of effectiveness in pressing against the opponent's goal and admitted they could have managed their lead better.
Regarding their away performance in the Copa Libertadores, with seven out of nine points obtained, Gallardo highlighted the difficulty of winning away in the tournament. He analyzed the upcoming match in the 2025 Apertura Tournament against Barracas Central as a tough challenge and emphasized the effort of his players who have been playing with intensity every few days.
Finally, Gallardo explained the substitution of forward Sebastián Driussi due to mild discomfort in the adductor, prioritizing the players' health during crucial weeks for the club.
