River gives the league to Boca... and the Gallardo Doll's explanation goes viral

When Miguel Borja scored the second goal, the one that gave River Plate the victory and the one that definitively sealed the championship for Boca Juniors, Marcelo Gallardo made a gesture with his right hand on the substitute bench.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
24 October 2022 Monday 12:35
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River gives the league to Boca... and the Gallardo Doll's explanation goes viral

When Miguel Borja scored the second goal, the one that gave River Plate the victory and the one that definitively sealed the championship for Boca Juniors, Marcelo Gallardo made a gesture with his right hand on the substitute bench. As if to say 'come on, come on, talk, now, talk'. And he immediately greeted each one of his collaborators and hugged them.

In his last role as River coach, Gallardo left with his chest inflated and his head held high. Consistent with his speech, the 'Muñeco' kicked the suspicions and curiosity that surrounded this definition and closed his successful (with 14 titles) cycle of eight and a half years with a victory over Racing in Avellaneda.

“What I would like to highlight is that in a country where everything is suspected of everything, where everything is crossed, where everything is so petty and seems to even lack values, we think that from football sometimes you have the possibility of sow seeds that mean that beyond everything you can have respect and dignity for the profession and the passion that this sport generates in us”, said the River coach before leaving the Cilindro de Avellaneda.

And despite the fact that that victory ended up giving Boca the championship, what an irony of fate, Gallardo, like River, will be able to boast of his greatness. From that slogan, "Live and play with greatness", which he has patented. And faithful to his era, his team, despite having an irregular year, competed until the end. As he always proposed since he took over the technical management of the Núñez club in mid-2014.

If someone suffered during the Gallardo cycle, it was Boca. And his years as a millionaire coach will be remembered for the titles, for the international conquests, for the Copa Libertadores, for the eliminations to Boca, for Madrid. And now also because in the Bombonera a River goal was shouted.

In that sense, the Doll stated: “I understand that there are frustrated and angry fans but that is the way we have to transmit values, dignity, beyond winning or losing. I am very proud to feel that, beyond having benefited our eternal rival. He gives me an inner peace”. And he added, forcefully: “Beyond not having a good year, we had a huge process. And we protect our identity.”

During the game he was seen very involved, constantly giving instructions. They had questioned him for bringing 17 players. But there were six injured and one suspended (Juanfer Quintero).

And before leaving he also left a message for the future, in which River will no longer have him. “There may be discouragement now because of how things turned out, but it will soon pass and River will be ready to continue down a line. You recover from a sports result. Not the other. From the other it does not become more ”, he affirmed.

Gallardo calmly left the Cylinder. With duty done. With his values ​​and conduct above all else. With the greatness that he permeated his work for almost a decade on the surface.

The news headlines will say that Boca won the championship. And Boca was the just winner of the tournament. But Marcelo Gallardo is the champion of Argentine soccer. And his absence will be felt.