Paulo Díaz Shares His Thoughts on River’s Victory with Candid Critique

River Plate won 2-0 against San Martín de San Juan at the Monumental stadium, with goals from Santiago Lencina and Maximiliano Salas. Defender Paulo Díaz noted that despite the win, the team’s performance needed improvement. He mentioned that River has shown inconsistencies and still has work to do.

In the first half, River dominated and established a two-goal lead comfortably. However, after halftime, their pace slowed. Early substitutions did not change the game’s tempo, allowing San Martín to create chances that required goalkeeper Franco Armani to intervene. Although River secured a clean sheet and earned the points, the overall display raised some concerns.

After the match, Díaz offered a straightforward assessment. “We wanted to finish this sequence of matches with a win, which was important before the FIFA break. Winning was essential,” he stated, addressing the team’s areas for growth. “There are times when we perform well and others when we struggle with precision. The squad is strong and filled with quality. We need to keep improving. Gallardo rates us at five out of ten, and we need to build from there,” he explained.

The defender also shared a light moment regarding Maximiliano Salas’ performance, saying with a smile that his teammate “is a nightmare because he runs everywhere” and joked about being glad he doesn’t have to face him in official matches.

The victory helped River strengthen its position in the annual table, which is crucial for qualifying for Libertadores 2026. Gallardo’s team remains in contention, but consistency will be crucial in the upcoming weeks.