“I have to be patient.” Demichelis: good numbers, the relationship with the fans and those who give him unconditional support

With the River shirt under the blue jacket, leaving aside any protocol custom, Martin Demichelis He arrived at the press conference room at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium with mixed feelings, after the 2-1 victory against Estudiantes de La Plata. From the happiness of obtaining your third title as a coach of Núñez’s team, to the relief after a night of tension, because he had much more at stake than the Argentine Super Cup trophy. His position was never in doubt for the leaders, but he knows that he still did not earn the unconditional support of the fans. He is aware that, right or wrong, his every decision is under scrutiny. That is why he needed a victory to add to his record, although fundamentally to prevent the whistles that arose on March 6, when the voice of the stadium announced his name in the prelude to the match against Independiente Rivadavia, from multiplying next Sunday.

“Goals are loved and shouted, and I am a River fan. “How in a final am I not going to shout a goal?” Demichelis responded, asked about his celebration in front of the lower stalls of the Kempes stadium, after the new Rodrigo Aliendro scored the winning goal.

Martín Demichelis shouted River’s second goal with a lot of euphoriaTV capture

Until then, since he took over as coach of the Millionaire, on November 16, 2022, he had never celebrated in that way. It was a kind of relief, especially because a while before, when the advantage was still rival, for the first time he had heard a clear call towards him: “Put the kids on…”

Applauded at the Monumental after winning the Professional League in 2023, Demichelis had credit in the fans’ consideration after replacing none other than Marcelo Gallardo, the winningest coach in River history with 14 titles after eight and a half years . However, support collapsed in a period of less than two months, as a result of the premature eliminations in the Copa Argentina and the Libertadores, as well as the episode of the off the record with journalism that marked a break in his relationship with the team’s leaders, aware of the DT’s opinions.

Demichelis lived the final in Córdoba with great intensity Fotobaires

Such a situation, unrelated to a kind of tacit manual of conduct that was still in practice since Gallardo implemented a series of guidelines, caused the discomfort of many people. Not even the triumph in the Bombonera and the obtaining of the Champions Trophy could direct the particular panorama. Even so, Demichelis always enjoyed the support of the leadership, an indispensable support in moments of greatest difficulty, and the statistics, which today show that he has 67% efficiency, undefeated in three games against Boca and a current streak of 16 games without losing, with eight wins and eight draws.

The numbers support Demichelis, who thanks to the Argentine Super Cup got the necessary respite to focus calmly on the two remaining challenges of the semester: the fight for the title in the Professional League Cup, where the goal difference allows him to be the leader of zone “A”, and successfully start the group stage in the Libertadores, waiting for the three opponents to be defined next Monday.

Emerging from the lower divisions of the Núñez club, Demichelis officially debuted under the technical direction of Ramón Díaz, on September 2, 2001. His stay lasted less than two years because in mid-2003 he was transferred to Bayern Munich. He played for the powerful German team for seven seasons and, subsequently, his European journey continued at Atlético de Madrid, where he did not get to play for the points, Manchester City, Espanyol and Málaga, where he put an end to his career in 2017, after a first stage in the period 2011-13.

The greeting with Eduardo Domínguez, before the definition Fotobaires

From there, he pursued a career to be technical director with the dream of returning to River in that role after several frustrated attempts to do so as a player. He even spoke with Gallardo to learn in detail some secrets of the profession. The twists and turns of life made him replace the Doll. He left behind the comfort of the Bavarian region, where he was in charge of Bayern Munich II, a kind of reserve, after a debate with his wife, Evangelina Anderson, and packed his suitcases when he reached an agreement to sign his contract until the 31st. December 2025.

The trust of the leadership towards Demichelis was not only reflected in the duration of the bond, but was also evident in Córdoba, where president Jorge Brito and vice presidents Matías Patanian and Ignacio Villarroel gave him a big hug after River will win the Argentine Super Cup for the third time in history.

Awkward moment: the cold greeting with Enzo PérezFotobaires

Despite the turbulence he went through due to the anger of a part of the team in the second half of 2023 and the multiple questions that on more than one occasion put his last name as a trend on the social network called X, Demichelis was never in the eye of the storm for the leadership of the institution. He still was not able to consolidate a close relationship with his management, but there were positive signs such as, for example, the hug he received from Aliendro during the celebrations.

“I have to be patient, listen little or nothing, although today (last night) it was loud. But I try to do what’s best for the team, not for me,” said Demichelis, minutes after shedding several tears of emotion upon becoming champion for the fifth time in River, adding his two titles as a player and the three at the head of the team.

Aware that the credit with the fans will have to be renewed match after match and with the mission of forming a competitive team to face the Libertadores, the main objective being the addition that the final will be played at the Monumental, Demichelis breathes a sigh of relief. The next few nights he will be able to sleep more peacefully in his apartment on Avenida del Libertador, where he has a privileged view of the stadium, the place where he dreams of lifting the long-awaited Libertadores.

German Balcarce

Themes

Martín DemichelisArgentine Super CupMundo River

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