How did Demichelis put together this unstoppable River that breaks records and sweeps the League

River does not stop its march. And, little by little, the team is becoming the car that Martin Demichelis aims to. g.He scored seven consecutive games in the league. They scored no goals in those games. And he took a lead of 6 points over his immediate pursuer (San Lorenzo) and 16 over Boca. Anyway, even though Micho’s team is preparing to make the Olympic tourthere is still a long way of 15 dates for the end of the championship.

River’s great football moment is backed up by historic numbers. The millionaire hasn’t started a local league with 10 wins in his first 12 dates (he has two losses) since the 1991 Apertura with Daniel Passarella as coach. At that time (he finished as champion) he had 10 wins and 2 draws.

On the other hand, it is the third time in its entire history that River has achieved 7 wins in a row with an unbeaten fence and the first in the professional era. The antecedents occurred in the amateur era, the first in 1921 and the last in 1929, 94 years ago.

The start of Demichelis, in turn, It is the second with the best brand in history, behind Carlos Peucelle, the ideologue of La Máquina. Out of 15 games ahead (12 in the league, 1 in the Copa Libertadores, 1 for the Champions Trophy and 1 for the Argentine Cup) Micho has won 12 and lost 3. That is to say, so far he has collected 80% of the points .

Regardless of the numbers and statistics, in River there is a strong idea of ​​the game, in which a balance is combined between defensive solidity and the commitment to be offensive and constantly look for goal in front. It happened against Newell’s, for example. As Demichelis said, the team was supportive in defending and reducing the spaces between defense and midfield and then, with the changes (the entry of Suárez, Barco, Beltrán and Solari) they went looking for the game.

River has a hierarchical team. You can put two starting eleven together, quietly. And many of those who are substitutes could be regulars in any other Argentine football club. In turn, whoever enters can win a game and from midfield forward there is quality to handle the ball and provide good intentions in attack.

To keep the barrier undefeated, beyond the great defensive work, he has to do it a category goalkeeper, who is world champion. Franco Armani has kept clean sheets 103 times since he was at the River (January 2018), a figure that already sees him in third place in history, behind two giants such as Pato Fillol (158) and Amadeo Carrizo (183). And in the 123 matches played between guests and neutral venues, they have not scored a goal in 57, i.e. 46.3%.

In River there is also a continuity of all the good things that have been built during the cycle of Marcelo Gallardo. With a team in the lead, associated play, good handling of the ball and trying to submit the opponent based on ball control and territory, beyond the fact that sometimes he succeeds and sometimes not, as also happened in Rosario, where there were passes where he didn’t have the ball. In those moments there is a predisposition to press to try and recover the ball quickly.

Another important issue is that there is a clear line in the club as to which course to take. With a philosophy that is respected, on and off the field, with a behavior that refers to a very professional managerial style. It is a continuous transformation that is reflected in actions and works, which bring peace and order. This leaves the players dedicated solely to the game and the coaching staff to do their job and guide the players.

“This is not my river, it is the people’s river, which never ceases to support and fill the Monumental. You have to be careful, there is no champion with 30 points. This season is very long. I tell the fans,” said Demichelis, who, beyond the euphoria of Rosario’s victory over Newell’s in the last game of the game, was cautious about the great moment River is experiencing.

Beyond this honeymoon living River, it’s okay for Demichelis to go slow. Because this is football. And although his team has taken a good lead on their pursuers, to find a team that, after being the leader after 12 matches, is the champion, you have to go back to the championship 18-19, won by Racing.

At 19-20. the leaders were Argentinos and Lanús, with 25 points, and the champion was Boca with 48; in 2021, Talleres, with 26 points and then River reached the Olympic round, with 54 points and last year Atlético Tucumán was leading with 25 points (one more than Gimnasia) and the winner of the tournament is it was Boca, who were seven points behind the Tucumans and finished with 52 points, two more than the runner-up (Racing) and six more than Atlético.

Until the numbers are final, it cannot be uncorked. For example, it happened to Marcelo Gallardo in his first local tournament as a millionaire coach. His team took an important lead in the 2014 Transition tournament but in the final stretch it held and Racing stole the title, after the Doll bet a plenary session for the Copa Sudamericana, which he ended up winning after eliminating the Boca in the semifinals. Because of this, River should not be trusted. Even though he has plenty of reasons to be excited.