Otamendi delivered a message of unity at River: "There are no broken legs"

In the midst of a football crisis, with the team without points or goals in the Clausura and eliminated from the Copa Argentina, Nicolás Otamendi stepped in to cut off the rumors of internal conflict. The captain of River spoke this Friday at the Ezeiza training ground and was clear: there are no broken legs behind closed doors.

The 38-year-old defender stood firm in front of the press and denied any friction with coach Eduardo Coudet or the management. “Everything is fine with Chacho and the directors, and we are working together to turn this situation around,” he stated firmly.

The reports in recent hours spoke of doubts about the coach's continuity and a tense atmosphere. Otamendi dismantled them in one go: “There is a unity among us, the coach, and the president. The important thing is to come together because we will all get through this difficult moment together.”

His words align with those of president Stefano Di Carlo, who had delivered a similar message on Tuesday. The world champion in Qatar 2022 did not play dumb and took responsibility for the criticism.

Self-criticism and focus on work

“We are aware of what we are going through. We have to face it and improve in all areas. The only way to achieve good results is to work hard and show everything we practiced during the week,” summarized the defender.

River arrives on Sunday with six consecutive losses and faces Argentinos Juniors, the undefeated leader of Zone B. Despite the tough moment, Otamendi appeared confident. “We have the mentality and confidence to turn this situation around. This week of work has been very positive. Hopefully, everything we prepared will come together on Sunday,” he said.

The center-back also referred to his own adaptation. He has only played four matches with the team and debuted just six days after playing in the World Cup final. “The newcomers need to adapt as quickly as possible. This week has been good for us to get to know each other better,” he explained.

A detail that helped was the postponement of the Copa Sudamericana match against Independiente Santa Fe, suspended due to the earthquake in Colombia. Those extra days of training helped refine details and foster closer bonds within the group.

A direct message to the fans

In closing, Otamendi looked towards the stands and left a hopeful message. "The River fans demand a lot. They want results and for the team to play well; we are aware of that. We will give everything for this jersey to start adding points and for the fans to reconnect with us, which is the most important thing.”