Marcelo Gallardo may have lost the Copa Libertadores final to Jorge Jesus’ Flamengo but he is
still River Plate’s most successful coach ever, having won the trophy twice before,
as well as one Copa Sudamericana and three Recopa Sudamericanas, among others. In an
era when it’s harder than ever to build a successful dynasty in Argentina, because
players are so regularly signed by European clubs, Gallardo has found consistent success
in one of the continent’s highest profile coaching roles. His ten titles include seven
international trophies, more than had been won by River in their history before his tenure.
At the age of only 43, the former River Plate, Monaco, and Paris Saint-Germain attacking
midfielder is being linked with top jobs in Europe, none more so than Barcelona.
Under Gallardo, River Plate have tended to set up in some version of a midfield diamond
with two up front, although they also play a narrow 4-4-2 with a deeper double pivot
at times, and Gallardo has also experimented with a 4-3-3 and even a three man back line
on occasions.
River Plate are a possession-orientated side who move the ball rapidly through quick interchanges,
but also look to shift the ball directly into the wide channels for the front men to break
onto if that option presents itself, with midfielders pushing up to provide options
for crosses or cutbacks.
Enzo Perez is the pivot, sitting in front of the back four, while Exequiel Palacios
is the main playmaker, who sits at the tip of the diamond, but will also drop deeper
to provide a longer passing option alongside Perez. The full backs push high up the pitch,
especially Gonzalo Montiel on the right, while right-sided centre-back Lucas Martinez Quarta
can carry the ball forwards to break an opposition press from deep.
River Plate’s wide midfielders tend to play narrowly, so that when the full backs get
up the pitch, there are good passing options inside. Ignacio Fernandez and Nicolas de la
Cruz have been two of River’s most impressive performers this season in these crucial positions
and, together with Palacios, provide a midfield of energy, creativity, neat interplay, and
the ability to fashion through balls for the forwards to run onto.
In attack, River Plate are the most effective team in the Argentinian Superliga by some
distance. They have taken the most shots, won the most corners and penalties, and had
the most touches in the box. Their passing metrics compare extremely favourably with
every other side. For example, not only are they first for deep completions – a completed
forward pass collected 25 yards from goal – but they manage six more per 90 than the
next best side, Lanus.
Defensively, River Plate have given up the fourth fewest shots so far this season and
have the highest PPDA, showing that they are the most effective pressing side in the league.
The River Plate press is generally excellent, led from the front by Rafael Santos Borre
and Matias Suarez, two high energy forwards who harass the opposition and effect high
turnovers. Behind them, the wide midfielders of River Plate will flex up towards the ball
if it goes wide, or fall back to make something of a midfield four in a middle or low block.
Palacios pushes up from attacking midfield to make a front three sometimes if the opposition
are looking to progress centrally, while Perez generally tidies up behind the midfield line.
De la Cruz has the licence to push out of the line with his speed and stamina and add
an extra thrust to River Plate’s pressing, well covered by Perez and left full back Milton
Casco.
River Plate uses this press to pin the opposition back and force longer passes, which can be
swept up deep by Perez and the centre backs, but they also win high turnovers and transition
quickly into attack. They also tend to defend pretty narrowly when the opposition attack
the wide areas, especially on the right, shifting across and hemming them in – once the ball
is won back, River Plate will very quickly and effectively switch play which, on the
left with de la Cruz’s speed, can be a devastating counter-attacking option.
In short, the hallmarks of Marcelo Gallardo’s successful River Plate sides are: dominating
the ball and using it well; rapid sequences of passing, especially centrally, to effect
through-ball opportunities; full backs who push high and wide to create overlaps, covered
by a defensive midfielder; an intense press designed to deny the opposition space and
facilitate quick turnovers; and the ability to make the pitch small and congested when
defending then expand it while attacking, either through short pass-and-move attacks
or direct balls into the channels.
If some of this sounds familiar, it should be no surprise – stylistically, there are
a number of good teams who play this way and this, along with the success Gallardo has
had, is the obvious reason why he is being linked to sides such as Barcelona. Indeed,
the above features could all be found in Barcelona’s most successful recent seasons.
Should Gallardo move to Barcelona, it’s likely that he would use a 4-3-3; he’s set
sides up like that before, and Barcelona are used to the formation. Nelson Semedo and either
Jordi Alba or Junior Firpo can play high as attacking full backs, while Sergio Busquets
works well in the Perez role and is a better passer. Frenkie De Jong would be an ideal
midfielder for Gallardo, dynamic, a good ball carrier and presser, and Arthur could provide
the sort of passing in tight central areas that Gallardo wants from his more creative,
less dynamic midfielder. If Gallardo plays a 4-3-3, then Messi would play on the right,
with Antoine Griezmann central and perhaps Ansu Fati on the left.
But Gallardo’s favoured diamond could also work well, with Messi starting right but drifting
in and effectively dictating play centrally, while Griezmann plays up front with another
striker. Luis Suarez is still hugely effective, although he tends to press less now to conserve
his energy – this is, perhaps, the one area where Gallardo would need investment, although
right back and central midfield could also do with bolstering.
But there’s no doubt that Gallardo could take this Barcelona side and without requiring
much in the way of new personnel, coach a style of play that is both natural to him
and something akin to the best Barca sides of the last decade. Gallardo has already built
a huge reputation and legacy in Argentina – he can do the same in Europe, and where
better than Barcelona?