Marcello Gallardo He has already said goodbye, but he hasn’t left yet River. Therefore, the show will continue until the last moment in the club of the most winning coach in the history of the institution. And while the doll holds talks with Enzo Francescoli To coordinate the move to the new manager, the players continue to train as there will be two friendlies next week which will be the last games of the Millionaire Coach Dolls, at least in this eight and a half year cycle.
The first match will be next Wednesday at 20:00 against Colo Colo (tickets on sale this Thursday 3 through the Puntoticket page) in the seaside resort of Viña del Mar in Chile, and the second will be on Sunday 13 (it would be from 17) against Betis of Spain in Mendoza (seats will be sold through Ticketek).
Gallardo will lead these friendlies, who will score the end of his coaching phase in the Núñez institute and the match against the Spanish team in Mendoza will also serve the Doll to greet the fans from the interior of the country, who were very present during the cycle putting together warm receptions for the team, every time it was his turn to play outside the AMBA.
Mendoza, in addition to being a very province of River Plate, is special because River won the Argentina Super Cup final against Boca, on March 14, 2018.
The one against Betis, the last that Gallardo will direct as coach of the River in this cycle, will be special also because the engineer Manuel Pellegrini, who will direct the Spanish club, will be opposite. On his first return to the Núñez institute in 2003, the Muñeco was directed by the Chilean.
Holidays and a date to remember
After that match against Betis, the River team will have holidays until December 8th. And Friday 9, the national date for Riverplatenses, the players will participate in the inauguration of the statue of Gallardo, with the presence – logically – of the Doll and the members of the technical staff who greet each other.
The statue of Gallardo was placed on Monday a few meters from the entrance to the Monumentale, in front of the Figueroa Alcorta avenue, very close to that of Ángel Labruna. And although the initial project aimed to present the works on the first anniversary of the final against Boca, the times have been delayed for several reasons and the pandemic has significantly lengthened the completion of the the sculpture of 6.3 tons and more than seven meters high.
And the last delay was due to the fact that the sculptor Mercedes Savall made a decision has completely redone Gallardo’s face. So, coincidentally, the postponed inauguration of the Bambola tribute will be the best farewell for the most successful coach in River history.
The bronze mass that will remain forever at the stadium gate was not just the work of Trillo and Savall. The fans also left their mark, with the donation of keys and metal elements to make the statue. And they will also be protagonists since they will be at the Monumentale on December 9th, where you will experience a dream and unforgettable party.
The squad After the match against Betis, and once they return to Buenos Aires from Mendoza on Sunday evening, 13, the River players will leave their holidays and will return to training on 12 December. By that date they will already be under the command of the new coach, who surely will be Martin Demicheliswhich would be officially unveiled a few hours after the party on December 9th.
The players will return to work at the RiverCamp in Ezeiza and will immediately go to the Portero de Los Funes. There, in San Luis, they will have a 10-day mini-preseason and could play an unconfirmed friendly.
Upon returning from the province of Cuyo, the training will continue in the week between the Christmas and New Year holidays at the RiverCamp in Ezeiza. And on January 3, 2023, the Millionaire delegation will leave for the United States to play the preseason, which will be concentrated in Fort Lauderdale, Miami. They will stay there until 18 and play friendly games.
Source: Clarin
