River closed one of its worst nights in Copa Libertadores: how does it turn history against Vélez

The defeat against Vélez at Liniers in the first leg of the first knockout round of the Copa Libertadores was not only one of the worst cup nights for River in Marcelo Gallardo’s cycle, but also for the coach himself. So disconcerting was the team that this time the Doll did not have the doll of other moments, neither in the initial assembly nor to correct with the modifications. How will you modify and reverse it on Wednesday at the Monumental?

“You have to be stronger to win divisions. You have to be there, ”Armani said on the pitch. And on that line, Gallardo continued at the press conference. “I leave with the feeling that we weren’t there. Especially when facing the second ball, physically “. And he made a harsh self-criticism: “You can’t play worse than this.” And he added: “I don’t remember a match like this in Copa Libertadores”.

The words of Armani and Gallardo connote that River has become a light team, very different from the strong and seasoned team that could put on their tracksuits when needed when they could not find fluid play with the ball. And this is where the doll will be aiming in the week to reverse the series Wednesday at Monumental. To a more physical team, which has more strength to play every ball. This was made clear in his words.

A river rarely seen

The River Thing in the Night of José Amalfitani it was a horror in generalL. Because the team was not present, as Gallardo and Armani admitted. And in addition to lacking the game, he had neither the strength nor the mentality to face the game. Plus: if it hadn’t been for the goalkeeper, he could have ended up with sticks.

Responsibilities cannot be removed by the coach, of course. There have been elections of ordered midfielders with good passing, but with little predisposition to friction and constant pressure, fundamental issues in cup matches. And he still couldn’t adapt those flyers to his method.

There was also – in this market – a focus on strengthening from midfield onwards. And return? The river continues to give defensive advantages. Not only for the individual mistakes that are repeated (against Vélez it was David Martínez, other times Paulo Díaz and Leandro González Pirez), but also in the collective functioning of the defense. The plants go far and are exposed. And even if they have a good start with the ball, it is difficult for them one on one. And the teams do not gravitate to attack and lose a lot of backs.

Gallardo and the changes

In this context, Gallardo tries to take turns, but sometimes the team is confused. So if De La Cruz isn’t there, Barco wasn’t the best solution to start from the beginning in a game where there was a lot of friction. And taking into account the match that was presented, was Juanfer Quintero, who lacks the pace due to a long injury, the first change?

And then there were three modifications of a service, in which the doll included two reinforcements, Lucas Beltran and Rodrigo Aliendro. The young striker already knows his teammates, but the former Colón had just completed a training session. And he threw them on the pitch quickly in a hot match, which is not normal in the process of him, with a few exceptions.

The movements of the players in the diagram are also subject to analysis. Gallardo chose to play with only one striker (Julián Álvarez) and many midfielders in the first half, but recently he changed two forwards. And it was a wise move. But the big problem remains the means. Much more when De La Cruz isn’t. Enzo Pérez was left very alone, despite his huge line-up. And he’s having ups and downs in his performance of him.

In the first game of the year, in which they lost to Unión in Santa Fe, for the Professional League Cup, River played a bad game like against Vélez. On that occasion, despite being the current champion of Argentine football, Gallardo was tempted to give reinforcements a quick role. Quintero and Elías Gómez were the owners. Barco enters the interval and Herrera and Pochettino in complement.

“They beat us and we didn’t meet at any point in the match. The good thing is that it happened in this first round and it helps us to understand that our rivals will play us with this level of intensity and concentration, ”Gallardo declared at the time. Four and a half months later, any resemblance to reality is no coincidence …