Gallardo strengthens the defense with Mammana and Pinola, who do not shy away from self-criticism for River’s bad performance

After the 0-0 against Arsenal, which did not allow River shorten the distance with the leader Atletico Tucumán, Javier Pinolaexhibiting his leadership marked by that captain’s ribbon he wears on his left arm when he has to play, he faced the microphones and was self-critical on team level.

“It was an important match that we had to win but we weren’t clear and we lacked the opportunities to get it.”admitted the defender of River, of a good level like his defensive partner, Emanuel Mammana.

And as for the analysis of the match, he added: “It was a difficult match on a complicated field, with a tough team that press very well in midfield. I think the first half was not what we expected. Then we tried with the changes to have more weight in attack because Lucas (Beltrán) was very alone in attack ”.

In the context of a match in which nothing from River came and he lowered the level again compared to what he showed on Saturday against Newell, there was something positive: the central duo. Mammana and Pinola were the best of the team in a forgettable match for Núñez’s team.

Some will think that if the best thing to stand out is a central duo, the river is in trouble. This reasoning could be valid if the context of Gallardo’s team had been different. It’s just that he had had a lot of defensive problems.

In fact, he used 15 different defenses in the last 17 games. Without going any further, he has also changed it against Arsenal since then Andrea Herrera entered the right side, milton helmet went left and Elia Gomez He left. But the central duo was the same one who played against Newell. And just like before Rosario, Mammana and Pinola performed well and stood out.

Mammana’s presence as first central scorer comes from several games ago. And it is establishing itself. Safe in the crosses, still in the aerial game, he also gives the team a clean start from the bottom.

For his part, Pinola played as a starter on Saturday because Paulo Díaz had an overload in his left quadriceps, from which he has not yet recovered. And the bald defender took the opportunity. With 39 years old on the back he played, ran and scored as if the document marked a young age. And he also scored a header. This Wednesday the left-handed central returned still in the background and had the opportunity to score after a still ball that Mammana lowered in the opponent’s area in the first half.

For the second consecutive game Gallardo repeated a duo that combines freshness, with Mammana, and experience, with Pinola, who, in addition to what he can give on the pitch, also contributes a lot off the field. So much so that he has lowered the line on what is coming. “We have to keep working to win on Sunday and keep fighting until the end because that is our goal,” said the center scorer who will now try to continue among the starting eleven.