Gallardo Shares Optimistic Update Following River’s Defeat to Palmeiras

In a recent press conference, Marcelo Gallardo discussed River Plate’s 2-1 defeat to Palmeiras in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals. He acknowledged some mistakes in the first half but emphasized that the tie is still open ahead of the return match in Brazil.

“We had a clear strategy based on our previous game with Estudiantes. We were feeling good and confident, but it was tough to set in against a team like this,” he said. Gallardo noted that early losses in duels and the first goal against them shifted the match’s momentum.

However, the second half brought a change. “Things improved after halftime, but we were already two goals down. The team showed resilience and pushed hard, which made them tire. We nearly equalized at the end, and that’s how we feel,” he added.

The coach pointed out that a one-goal deficit keeps River in the game: “I’ll focus on the positive feeling from the end. It’s a manageable margin. It would have been tougher if we were down by two. We’re still in it because it’s just one goal.” He mentioned specific areas for improvement: “We need to address the mistakes we made, especially the set-piece goal at the beginning. The score gives us hope to change things in the next game.”

Gallardo also praised Juan Fernando Quintero’s impact after coming off the bench, even though he isn’t at full fitness yet. He emphasized the need to respect the opponent’s strength and noted, “It’s not just about attitude. You have to recognize when the other team is better. In the second half, we took control, but unfortunately didn’t score. We need to focus on the positives, fix the negatives, and approach the next match with hope and a more aggressive game plan.”