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South American Dispatch: River Running Hot and Cold
Goal.com’s Tim Sturtridge reports from Buenos Aires as Leonardo Astrada tries to combat River’s inconsistency, Wanderley Luxemburgo changes his tune on Neymar and Grêmio overlook the caretaker…
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Nov 24, 2009 8:00:39 AM
River Plate head coach Leonardo Astrada was left bemoaning his team’s inability to keep up their improving form for an entire match, as his side conceded a second half equaliser away to Godoy Cruz on Sunday.
“We can not maintain the same level of play during 90 minutes,” Astrada said.
“Against Godoy Cruz we started well but fell asleep in the second half. We now have less points then we should have.”
After beating Atlético Tucumán at home last weekend, River looked on course for their first back-to-back wins since February after a goal from Rosales gave the team from Buenos Aires a 1-0 lead at half time. Godoy Cruz of Mendoza were able to level, shortly after the interval, with a strike from Rojas.
“Yesterday we started well with an early goal and while we were not brilliant, we dominated the game and had several chances to increase our lead,” Astrada reflected yesterday morning.
“In the second half we went to sleep and it is this inconsistency which prevents us from going on a good run.”
River will have a new president following their 5th December elections and it is uncertain whether Astrada is doing enough to be in a job come Christmas.
Despite a number of the presidential candidates publicising their plans to replace Astrada should they win the election, the current boss is still planning for next season.
“We have the idea to bring in four new players to add to our existing squad of players to meet the challenges ahead,” Astrada said.
“At River, we must always have the mentality of going out to win the championship.
“If the presidential candidates do not agree with this, then we will sit down and talk,” Astrada said when challenged about losing his job next month.
“Our idea is to carry on with the job here, because we believe we are in the process of turning things around.”
Luxa denies problems with in-form Neymar
Wanderley Luxemburgo was keen to stress early this week that there are no problems between him and his star asset at Santos - wonderkid Neymar.
Neymar’s brace against Coritiba in Santos’ 4-0 win at the weekend brought the 17-year-old’s tally to five goals in his last three games. Since taking over at Santos in July, Luxemburgo has been trying his best not to let Neymar get carried away and this had led to perceived problems between the player and his coach.
The former Real Madrid manager had previously told the player that he needed to bulk up if he was going to realise his full potential in the game.
“We are all pleased with his performance against Coritiba. Hopefully he continues to learn that the best way to beat his opponents is to dribble less and score more,” Luxemburgo said.
The veteran coach, who has won the Brazilian league a record five times, dismissed the idea that he has a bad relationship with Neymar or Madson, another of his young stars.
“We are teaching these kids to find space on the pitch and improve their technique,” Luxemburgo continued.
“If these kids were already the finished article, then surely we would have won more games and would be challenging near the top of the table.”
Rospide turned down for Grêmio job
Despite an impressive spell as caretaker boss of Grêmio, Marcelo Rospide has been told he will not be the man in charge of the team next season. Grêmio went down to just a single defeat during Rospide’s time in the hot seat but club president Adilson Batista wants to bring in a fresh face for the 2010 season.
“Rospide has brought back a professional approach to Grêmio in the time which he has been picking the team,” came the message from the corridors of power at the Olímpico Monumental through club spokesman Luis Onofre Meira.
“We want Rospide to continue to be part of the coaching team here but just as a coach and not the manager.”
Two names strongly linked with the post for next season are Paulo Silas of Avai and Dorival Júnior of Vasco de Gama.
“They are both coaches on the rise with similar qualities. They are both young and deserve a chance.” Meira said.
Tim Sturtridge, Goal.com
“We can not maintain the same level of play during 90 minutes,” Astrada said.
“Against Godoy Cruz we started well but fell asleep in the second half. We now have less points then we should have.”
After beating Atlético Tucumán at home last weekend, River looked on course for their first back-to-back wins since February after a goal from Rosales gave the team from Buenos Aires a 1-0 lead at half time. Godoy Cruz of Mendoza were able to level, shortly after the interval, with a strike from Rojas.
“Yesterday we started well with an early goal and while we were not brilliant, we dominated the game and had several chances to increase our lead,” Astrada reflected yesterday morning.
“In the second half we went to sleep and it is this inconsistency which prevents us from going on a good run.”
River will have a new president following their 5th December elections and it is uncertain whether Astrada is doing enough to be in a job come Christmas.
Despite a number of the presidential candidates publicising their plans to replace Astrada should they win the election, the current boss is still planning for next season.
“We have the idea to bring in four new players to add to our existing squad of players to meet the challenges ahead,” Astrada said.
“At River, we must always have the mentality of going out to win the championship.
“If the presidential candidates do not agree with this, then we will sit down and talk,” Astrada said when challenged about losing his job next month.
“Our idea is to carry on with the job here, because we believe we are in the process of turning things around.”
Luxa denies problems with in-form Neymar
Wanderley Luxemburgo was keen to stress early this week that there are no problems between him and his star asset at Santos - wonderkid Neymar.
Neymar’s brace against Coritiba in Santos’ 4-0 win at the weekend brought the 17-year-old’s tally to five goals in his last three games. Since taking over at Santos in July, Luxemburgo has been trying his best not to let Neymar get carried away and this had led to perceived problems between the player and his coach.
The former Real Madrid manager had previously told the player that he needed to bulk up if he was going to realise his full potential in the game.
“We are all pleased with his performance against Coritiba. Hopefully he continues to learn that the best way to beat his opponents is to dribble less and score more,” Luxemburgo said.
The veteran coach, who has won the Brazilian league a record five times, dismissed the idea that he has a bad relationship with Neymar or Madson, another of his young stars.
“We are teaching these kids to find space on the pitch and improve their technique,” Luxemburgo continued.
“If these kids were already the finished article, then surely we would have won more games and would be challenging near the top of the table.”
Rospide turned down for Grêmio job
Despite an impressive spell as caretaker boss of Grêmio, Marcelo Rospide has been told he will not be the man in charge of the team next season. Grêmio went down to just a single defeat during Rospide’s time in the hot seat but club president Adilson Batista wants to bring in a fresh face for the 2010 season.
“Rospide has brought back a professional approach to Grêmio in the time which he has been picking the team,” came the message from the corridors of power at the Olímpico Monumental through club spokesman Luis Onofre Meira.
“We want Rospide to continue to be part of the coaching team here but just as a coach and not the manager.”
Two names strongly linked with the post for next season are Paulo Silas of Avai and Dorival Júnior of Vasco de Gama.
“They are both coaches on the rise with similar qualities. They are both young and deserve a chance.” Meira said.
Tim Sturtridge, Goal.com
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
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|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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