Costas Sparks River Rivalry and Shares Disappointment Over Racing’s League Challenges

As reported by Olé, Racing manager Gustavo Costas has taken the international break to think about his team’s performance in the domestic league and to prepare for important matches ahead. With three consecutive losses putting the team near the bottom of the Clausura standings, attention is now shifting to crucial knockout games: the Libertadores quarterfinal against Vélez and the Copa Argentina match against River Plate.

The match against River is particularly intense because forward Maximiliano Salas left Racing for River by activating his release clause after the Club World Cup. “That game is extra dramatic, isn’t it? Let’s hope Salas doesn’t play like he did with us and makes plenty of mistakes,” Costas joked, noting that he was the one who first brought the striker to Racing after coaching him at Palestino.

Despite their history, Costas emphasized how significant the upcoming matches are. “These matches aren’t just to be played; they’re meant to be won. We’re up against a strong rival that has nearly a new squad. We understand the stakes. It’s a trophy Racing has never won, and we hope to bring our fans that joy,” he said.

The official date and venue for the River match are yet to be set, but it is anticipated to happen in early October, following Racing’s Libertadores match with Vélez and River’s game against Palmeiras.

Reflecting on the Clausura, Costas expressed his disappointment over the poor results. “What hurts the most is that we can’t seem to find a way to win. In the last two matches, the manner of our losses was especially painful. Sometimes, after achieving something significant, just days later, the team looks completely different,” he said.

Lastly, he spoke about the controversy surrounding his decision to substitute goalkeeper Gabriel Arias late in the second leg against Peñarol. Facundo Cambeses came on in preparation for a penalty shootout that didn’t occur after Racing scored a last-minute goal. “I wouldn’t have done that back then. I apologized to Gabi. It was a decision made with the staff. Maybe I was wrong, but it was a considered choice,” Costas admitted.