Acuña denies Gallardo row: "I don't get why they spread lies" | OneFootball

After the Monumental spoke during River’s 3-1 victory over Banfield—a match that marked the end of Marcelo Gallardo’s second stint as coach of the Millonario—several members of the squad were labeled as responsible for the departure of the most successful manager in the club’s history. One of them is Marcos Acuña, who posted a statement on his Instagram account denying the rumors that have circulated in recent hours. “I don’t understand why so many lies are being spread,” said Huevo.

“After so many years in football, I’ve learned not to get caught up when people make things up, and now they’re trying to involve me in supposed conflicts that don’t exist and never have. It hurts to hear things so far from reality, spoken with such carelessness. I’ve always been a professional and given my best at every club I’ve played for, and this is no exception,” wrote the World Cup winner with the Argentine National Team.

“Never in my life have I faked injuries or illnesses to avoid playing. Even when I wasn’t 100%, I made myself available to the coaching staff if they needed me. It’s very serious, and I don’t understand why so many lies are being spread. This only harms the people involved, their families, and the club. I’ll keep working and stay focused on giving my best every day,” he added.

And he concluded: “I have peace of mind knowing I have the support of the club and my teammates at this moment.”

Acuña was one of the most booed players during the afternoon-evening at the Monumental. Criticized for his lack of commitment and physical problems that have kept him out of several matches, the World Cup winner is among those blamed for the football crisis the club is experiencing. After the win against Banfield, the distinction made by those present at the stadium was clear: ovation and cheers for Gallardo, and strong disapproval for the players (except for the youngsters).

His supposed problem with the coach is said to have started during the painful 4-1 defeat to Tigre. There, both he and other teammates reportedly blamed the coach for the tactical approach. That discussion is believed to have triggered a rift in the locker room, which deepened with subsequent losses to Argentinos Juniors and Vélez.

It was precisely against el Bicho that Huevo was substituted in the 59th minute for Matías Viña and hasn’t played since. He didn’t travel to San Luis due to a bout of flu, which also kept him out of the match against el Fortín. Against Banfield, he was on the bench but didn’t get any minutes. His place was taken by young Facundo González, who made his first start in the first team.

In Núñez, they hope that Gallardo’s departure will help ease tensions in a locker room where, after a poor start to the year, differences arose regarding the coach’s authority. President Stéfano Di Carlo will seek to bring calm during the transition toward the arrival of the next coach, and it will be Eduardo Coudet himself (unless something unexpected happens) who will have to make decisions to create a new harmony within a shaken squad.

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