Gallardo under pressure in Copa Argentina, five successors await | OneFootball

The current situation of River Plate is going through a storm that seems endless. After the overwhelming 1-4 defeat against Tigre, the recent and surprising loss to Argentinos Juniors has deepened a football crisis that has Marcelo Gallardo at the center of attention. Despite Stefano Di Carlo's management renewing confidence in the "Muñeco" after a forgettable 2025, the results are not showing, the new players are struggling to adapt, and the team's tactical performance is crumbling week by week.

In this context of uncertainty, the concept of "end of cycle" has stopped being a hallway rumor and has become a concrete possibility. According to journalist Maximiliano Uria's analysis in Clarín, the coaching staff is unable to find answers in their players, which has sparked an early dance of names to occupy the most coveted bench in the country.

The five candidates on River's radar

The list of possible replacements combines a sense of belonging with international experience. Among the names with River Plate DNA are Hernán Crespo, Eduardo Coudet, and Pablo Aimar, figures that always appear on the radar with every institutional shake-up. They are joined by Ariel Holan, who comes with a successful and recent stint at Rosario Central, where he was crowned champion.

However, the real surprise is the appearance of Santiago Solari. The current Director of Professional Football at Real Madrid, who emerged from the millonario academy, is said to have had contacts through a close connection to the club. The "Indiecito" has the experience of having managed Real Madrid and América of Mexico, which positions him as the luxury "dark horse" in case Gallardo's departure is hastened.

An anticipated final in San Luis

Despite the media noise, the genuine fan maintains eternal gratitude towards Gallardo, expressed in constant ovations at the Monumental. However, the margin for error is zero. "We will try to continue on our path, we have to improve and we will achieve it," declared Matías Biscay trying to calm the waters. The litmus test will be this Tuesday against Ciudad de Bolívar for the Copa Argentina; a victory would bring the necessary relief, but another setback could mark the end of the club's most glorious era.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.