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ESGallardo: "A tremendous performance from our players" River’s manager gave a press conference after the 3-1 win over Independiente and the qualification for the CONMEBOL Libertadores semi-final.
“A very tough series, against a great rival. We always kept our head in the game, despite the first half being very tight, with few spaces to play. We knew it was going to be like that, I was sure Independiente was going to play us as it did. The first 20 minutes were good, we went for the score. That's when it started to even out”, Marcelo Gallardo pointed out.
He added: “We made the difference in the second half. Their goal could have hit us hard, but we didn't despair, the substitutions brought solutions and we won a great match, a tremendous performance from our players. They brought great joy to the people, who have accompanied them and who feel identified with the team. We didn't win by chance, we won with authority. This is very valuable, and I hope we continue like this.”
“We stood firm on their side of the pitch with drive, will and authority. The match was the one we expected and the players who make the difference were going to appear. To qualify for three semi-finals in four years makes us a clearly competitive team,” the manager of El Más Grande continued.
As regards Borré's and Quintero's good performances, Gallardo explained: “It's good that players feel supported and confident, that they have drive and ambition. That all of them appreciate these possibilities, that's what I think.”
“I'm here to manage a group of great football players: we all pursue the same goal and follow the same path. I have to make decisions, sometimes I think they are necessary for the team; the team will always come first. If the players understand this, coexistence becomes much healthier”, the manager added.
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