The close relationship between Gallardo and Pellegrini: the Doll says goodbye to River in front of one of his teachers

The cycle by Marcelo Gallardo in River Plate to its permanent closure. Strictly speaking, these finishing duels do not count for the record, except for points. However, they have the emotional charge of being the last minutes the doll sits on the millionaires’ bench. The final point will be against Real Betis, a team led by Manuel Pellegrini, who was the coach of Argentina in the cast of the blood band, at the turn of the century,

Attendance at the Malvinas Argentina stadium in Mendoza is expected to be 40,000 this Sunday. I mean, full. It is the expectation of the trans-Andean nation to fire one of the most successful strategists at club level. And it is not for nothing, the native of Merlo has been at the head of the team that officiates as a local in the Monumental de Núñez for eight years. During this period, River has won 14 titles, highlighting the Copa Libertadores of 2015 and 2018. In the latter, beating Boca Juniors, their usual rival, in the final. A special seasoning.

The service competitor gives a particular flavor to the meeting. Sevillians are among the sensational paintings in Spain. Despite sitting sixth in La Liga, their fine Europa League campaign has earned them praise in many latitudes. An attractive match is in sight, friendly on paper, but with a good footballing spirit. Even more with the background left by River last Wednesday in Sausalito when intensity prevailed in the game against Colo Colo.

Manuel Pellegrini directed River Plate between 2002 and 2003. He landed in the blood band institution after outstanding presentations in San Lorenzo de Almagro. At that time, it coincided with Marcelo Gallardo back in Argentina, after his first steps in European football, when he defended Monaco.

The millionaire set went through a slow process of reconstruction at that time, under a huge climate of pressure and discontent from the fans, due to the success of Boca de Carlos Bianchi, that he dominated America without counterweight, and that he was able to beat Real Madrid in the Intercontinental Cup. It was not an easy time for River Plate fans.

Despite all the problems and difficulties, Pellegrini managed to make River competitive. Meanwhile, a more mature Gallardo listened and watched the Engineer intently, trying to absorb and learn, knowing that his future lay in the technical direction, when he hung up his boots. The Chilean coach wasn’t the world-famous figure he is today, but he was about to take the plunge.

Meanwhile, together they were close to reaching the South American Cup but succumbed to Peru’s Cienciano in the deciding instance. The Engineer was on the bench and the Doll started in both finals. The second leg is remembered, among other things, for the hamstring injury suffered by Marcelo Salas, who had to leave the field before 20 minutes. With the former midfielder as DT, River would have his revenge in this contest, as he would reach it in 2014.

Marcelo Gallardo’s future is unknown. However, many point out that he could have opportunities in football on the old continent. Something that Pellegrini himself has claimed in the past. “He has a track record that few can match, all these years have done him good to prepare. He has the CV, the prestige and the name; It would be very rare for him not to go to Europe,” the Chilean strategist told TyC Sports in mid-2021.

In this conversation with the Argentinian channel, Pellegrini recalled the moment they met in Buenos Aires. Additionally, he revealed that the Doll approached him to talk to him when he was taking his first steps as a technician. “When I had the chance to lead him, I saw him very footballed. We even had a very long conversation in Manchester when he was just starting his coaching career.” counted.

For the former Real Madrid coach, the fact that Gallardo played in France facilitates a possible move to the other side of the Atlantic. “I think having done part of the race here is important, because the environment is known”, He said.

Gallardomania ends this Sunday. River Plate fans came to Mendoza to pay tribute to the technical director. They even filled the hotel where the team is staying. However, managers are already looking to the future. According to reports from across the mountain range, the next coach is another Pellegrini acquaintance: Martín Demichelis.

The two-time World Cup player led Bayern Munich II until this Friday when he bade farewell to Germany’s biggest casting subsidiary. , which plays in the fourth category of Teutonic football. He was in charge of 73 games, with 38 wins, 18 draws and 17 losses.

The former defender, who already has everything in agreement with the management of the River Plate team, according to several trans-Andean media, is a real gift from the Engineer, since he was managed by the Chilean in River, Malaga and Manchester City. In fact, in an interview he gave to Clarín in 2020, the former defender maintained that Pellegrini is the best coach he has had. Something that would also say, for example, Albert Acosta.

Everything indicates that Demichelis will be made official as River’s DT sometime next week. It will take place after Gallardo’s last duel, which will take place this Sunday at 5:00 p.m. (Chile) against Real Betis of Pellegrini and Claudio Bravo.