Argentine football does not even forgive idols. The present, the rabid present, is so strong that it overcomes all nostalgia. That is why it should be celebrated that characters like Marcelo Gallardo, Juan Roman Riquelme y Diego Militoin River, Boca y Racingrespectively, put their myth status at risk. Something similar happens with Juan Sebastian Veronthe most important character in the history of Students of La Plata. In recent months, the aforementioned personalities have found themselves in the middle of controversies and criticism for their performances and actions. The feeling is that even the bronzes get dirty in the mud of local football. And the doubt arises: is it logical that this happens or is it a product of the hysteria with which we live?
Juan Roman Riquelme swept last year’s elections: he obtained more than 65 percent of the votes to defeat the Ibarra-Macri formula, which took 43 percent of the votes. From that moment on, the former enganche remained within a political fissure that was used and expanded by his adversaries. Even president Javier Milei threw poisonous darts at the idol. Beyond some isolated statements, Riquelme tried to stay out of the political dispute. “Power is that people love you,” JRR shot brilliantly in an interview.
But Riquelme is deep in the football mud because things are not working out in Boca. The president opted for Diego Martínez and it didn’t work. Much more: the coach left with complaints about how professional football is run. Now the chosen one is Fernando Gago, who started on the left foot after the elimination in the Argentine Cup.
Even those who love Román criticize him for the poor makeup of the squad to face this year. Riquelme’s way of driving is personalistic and, therefore, anachronistic. He has even repeatedly minimized the role of the coaches. But the questions could be even stronger if the team is left out of the Copa Libertadores for the second consecutive year. It is presumed that Román plays too much in the remaining dates of the year.
“I trust a lot in the coach, in the people on the Council. We will try to form a great team so that next year people feel happy and very identified“Riquelme explained on radio La Red. And he added: “I try to work, I do my job the best I can, I love the place where I am and I don’t bother anyone, because this is the truth, I don’t bother anyone. And I don’t owe anyone anything, I think that’s good. “I only give the commitment to Boca fans to try to take care of the club and so that we can grow.”
In River there is disappointment after the first months of Marcelo Gallardo. El Muñeco returned to win the Copa Libertadores and could not even compete against Atlético Mineiro in the semifinals, despite the fact that the leaders granted his wishes and quickly closed the incorporations of Marcos Acuña, Germán Pezzella, Maximiliano Meza and Fabricio Bustos.
What is accused of the man with the giant statue that rests next to that of Ángel Labruna? That he could not raise the level of the team, that ended up playing worse than he did with Martín Demichelis. Furthermore, no player was enhanced with the arrival of the Doll. Another mark is the poor reading in specific matches or the assembly of the starting casts.
Gallardo never found the ideal scheme for footballers: he started with a 4-3-3, went through a 4-2-3-1 and culminated with an obsolete 4-3-1-2. More: he could not stimulate promising youth players like Claudio Echeverri or Franco Mastantuono.
Of course, the Doll has room for action and will only be able to be judged with full authority in 2025: he will assemble the squad and command the preseason from the beginning. “For no technician, the ideal is to get on a train that is already moving. You have to make decisions based on what you are seeing and sometimes what you see from the outside does not indicate a real observation,” he confessed.
“We are at the end of the year, we have to get there as best we can, with the players we have. I will be happy with starting a year as I believe we are going to start it with renewed hopes and with another energy.. Only starting next year will I feel fulfilled. Because we are going to have the possibility of working the way I like, with the mentality that I want, that my teams always impose and greater football wealth,” analyzed the Muñeco after the long-suffering victory against Estudiantes in La Plata.
Gallardo also referred to the whistles with which the fans said goodbye to the team after the 1-1 draw against San Lorenzo at the Monumental. “You have to accept when these things happen. There is a very marked demand in this club and we are not in the position that we all want. People’s discontent is felt and we have to respect it,” said the coach. And he added: “People’s demands have always existed and I accept it. If you don’t accept it, you can’t be there. My mentality has been to accept belonging to this club because it sets the bar high for you, it’s demanding. I love it.” .
The last case is that of Diego Militowho, like Riquelme, chose to get involved in politics. Although he did not want to, the Prince had to enter into the dirty game since he launched himself as a candidate for president of Racing, whose elections will be in December.
They quickly associated Milito with the PRO because his running mate is Hernán Lacunzaformer Minister of Finance of the Nation during the presidency of Mauricio Macri. Another dart that fell to the champion in 2014 was due to his relationship with Fernando Marinwho managed the Avellaneda institution between 2000 and 2006.
“I want to say it in a forceful way and I want to leave it here in writing, as a commitment, to end this issue. Fernando Marín is not and will not be in Racing Sueña or in my government,” Milito published.
Another of the issues that touched Milito was related to Sports Joint Stock Companies. “I also want to reaffirm that Racing should not be transformed into a Sports Joint Stock Company (SAD). As I always say, the best thing that Racing has is its people. No one better than our partners,” clarified the Prince.
In recent days, Milito provoked a reaction from Juan Fernando Quintero, one of the heroes in winning the Copa Sudamericana. “Racing came across these results, the planets aligned, but they are sporadic things and are not part of planning,” said the candidate in a radio interview. “Let no one, absolutely no one, take away our credit. Causality: things are sought, achieved and valued,” Juanfer replied on his social networks.
Besides, Milito had to come out to deny the version that Gustavo Costas was not part of his plans as coach and that Guillermo Barros Schelotto was his candidate. The concrete and certain thing is that the current coach was not the Prince’s favorite, although the South American title made him change his position. “The first coach we are going to sit with if we win the elections is going to be Gustavo. He earned it,” said the former striker.
This Tuesday, Milito presented Sebastián Saja as his manager. And there he referred to the flag that appeared on the Independiente field that said: “Diego Milito president. For an all red Avellaneda.” “These are attacks that I do not understand. We want to eradicate the old club policy. I said it 4 years ago when I left: we had to evolve. It seems that nothing has changed since then,” the Prince shot.
Nothing and no one is saved by the demands of local football. Not even idols that have bronze statues are exempt from the critical eye and accusing finger of the average Argentine fan.