River Plate will try to win the Copa Libertadores again because “it is everyone's dream,” said coach Marcelo Gallardo on Monday upon his return to the South American giant.
Gallardo won 14 titles in his first spell at River, including the 2015 and 2018 Copa Libertadores, in his eight-and-a-half years in charge from 2014 to 2022, before coaching Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad from 2023 to 24.
“The main objective is to go for everything that is at stake and mainly focus on the Libertadores,” said Gallardo at his presentation at River's Monumental stadium.
“It's everyone's dream [the Libertadores title]“It is the dream that we all have. We are going to do everything possible to be able to compete in this competition with great enthusiasm and to be able to advance, and of course with the hope of winning it.”
The victories over their bitter rival Boca Juniors in the 2014 Copa Sudamericana and the 2015, 2018 and 2019 Libertadores left a mark on Argentine football and on the history of the rivalry between the country's most popular clubs.
“The first thing I feel right now is a lot of emotion, which has to do with mixed feelings, with the fact that I left recently but it seems like I never left,” said Gallardo.
“I am in the place where I belong, where I feel, and there is a lot of expectation regarding what we can do from now on.”
Gallardo takes over the role after the departure of Martín Demichelis, who resigned following a run of poor results this year after being hired in 2023.
“There is a lot of work to be done, which is clearly underway. The train is moving and we have to try to be very precise with an idea and a message that has a quick impact,” said Gallardo.
River will host Huracán on Saturday in the Argentine league in the first match of the most successful coach in the club's last stage in charge.
Information from Reuters was used in this story.
