vipnerd
09 Jan 2006, 11:05 AM
Well ... probbably most of the River fans know by now, but last nite after the friendly game against San Lorenzo, Gallardo called coach Merlo for a talk.
Gallardo expressed to him he wanted to leave River because he wasn't in agreement with the football project proposed by Merlo. He added that 90% of the squad agreed with the view.
Merlo followed to meet with the players, and even thou the exact details haven't been revealed, the impression for Merlo was that it was true. Apparently the only player who raised his hand in support for Merlo was Zapata.
Merlo decided to step aside and leave River to the will of the players, and indirectly of the dirigentes (there were no dirigentes, except 1, yesterday at the game nor in the meeting).
At the same time, 3 dirigentes back in Bs As were already talking to Daniel Pasarella to start agreeing in terms for his River return. Pasarella brings with him "sponsors" who would put the money to bring the players that River needs.
What part of the project didn't the players (and the dirigentes) like? Merlo DID NOT want Ortega to return to River ... "it is not the moment for it" was Merlo's decision. It is known also that Gallardo told a reporter a few days ago that "Merlo is a coach for small teams". Behind the scenes, it is rumoured of a strong discrepancy between player and coach with Gallardo's red card against Gimnasia ... some say they even went to fists.
Merlo pointed out on a press conference without questions, that he was just starting to build his team with the "6 players" that were suppossed to join the team. But he gave an interview with Fernando Niembro on La Red and was cleared that this was a coup d' etat against him ... and that his love for River is bigger that anything, hence his stepping aside.
The truth is that River is without coach ... without the "new players" 6 days before the 1st super-clasico of summer against Boca and 2 weeks before their first qualifying game for Libertadores.
Good luck ... as Macri said, Boca needs a strong River. ;)
.
Gallardo expressed to him he wanted to leave River because he wasn't in agreement with the football project proposed by Merlo. He added that 90% of the squad agreed with the view.
Merlo followed to meet with the players, and even thou the exact details haven't been revealed, the impression for Merlo was that it was true. Apparently the only player who raised his hand in support for Merlo was Zapata.
Merlo decided to step aside and leave River to the will of the players, and indirectly of the dirigentes (there were no dirigentes, except 1, yesterday at the game nor in the meeting).
At the same time, 3 dirigentes back in Bs As were already talking to Daniel Pasarella to start agreeing in terms for his River return. Pasarella brings with him "sponsors" who would put the money to bring the players that River needs.
What part of the project didn't the players (and the dirigentes) like? Merlo DID NOT want Ortega to return to River ... "it is not the moment for it" was Merlo's decision. It is known also that Gallardo told a reporter a few days ago that "Merlo is a coach for small teams". Behind the scenes, it is rumoured of a strong discrepancy between player and coach with Gallardo's red card against Gimnasia ... some say they even went to fists.
Merlo pointed out on a press conference without questions, that he was just starting to build his team with the "6 players" that were suppossed to join the team. But he gave an interview with Fernando Niembro on La Red and was cleared that this was a coup d' etat against him ... and that his love for River is bigger that anything, hence his stepping aside.
The truth is that River is without coach ... without the "new players" 6 days before the 1st super-clasico of summer against Boca and 2 weeks before their first qualifying game for Libertadores.
Good luck ... as Macri said, Boca needs a strong River. ;)
.