Gallardo to stay at River until 2026: "We'll win again" | OneFootball

In the midst of a crisis, and just as speculation about his future was beginning to swirl days before the Superclásico, Marcelo Gallardo renewed his contract with River until December 2026. After unexpectedly canceling the press conference following the defeat to Gimnasia—which complicated the Millionaire’s position in the annual standings for qualifying to the 2026 Copa Libertadores and unleashed the fans’ disapproval at the Monumental—the coach announced his continuity in a press conference alongside the newly appointed president, Stefano Di Carlo. “My confidence, my conviction, my desire, and my drive to keep raising the stakes are what keep me going,” said “El Muñeco” at the microphones.

“First of all, I want to thank Stefano and the entire board of directors for their conviction. This is a moment of sporting adversity that, in my opinion, River’s history has faced many times before. Regarding that, I have to say that we are not immune to reality. We know that this year’s objectives did not turn out as we would have liked.” began the most successful coach in the club’s history.

He added: “Creating a new space in an environment where we can refocus will help us win again. That’s where I believe, from my way of thinking, my way of being, and my way of facing this adversity, that I have the necessary convictions to double down.”

Unlike the contract renewals during his first and successful spell at the club he loves, this time Gallardo agreed to the extension of his contract in the middle of competition and before the Superclásico against Boca. He explained it this way: “I think announcing the continuity depends on the conviction we all have here. In different administrations, I’ve had much longer contracts, and at the end of each season, we evaluated how to move forward. In this case, we preferred to do it this way. We are constantly reaffirming ourselves. No one is above River.”

“Beyond the situation, I am happy to continue. From conviction, from the desire to turn things around, and because I understand that this football crisis will pass. That’s what keeps me here,” he added.

He delved deeper into the subject, leaving a phrase reminiscent of those that made River fans rally behind him: “I am a homegrown boy, a River kid, I’m not going to run away because of a bad sporting year. Anyone who speculated about that doesn’t know me, doesn’t understand what I’m made of, and doesn’t know how much I love this club. What I am sure of is that we will win again.”

Next Sunday, at 4:30 p.m., River visits Boca in a Superclásico that will have even more spice than usual. A Xeneize victory or a draw would guarantee Claudio Úbeda’s team a spot in the group stage of the next Copa Libertadores through the annual standings and would relegate their eternal rival to at least the playoffs. A Millionaire victory, on the other hand, would not only give them a chance to surpass their rival in the annual standings, but would also be a huge injection of confidence for a team that seemed to hit rock bottom against Gimnasia at the Monumental.

That’s how Gallardo summed it up. With “El Muñeco’s” renewal as a breath of fresh air amid so many rumors, River is preparing to face this decisive clásico and the end of a 2025 that, for now, is proving to be forgettable.

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