“It happened to us that after the sixth date (0-0 against Belgrano as a local) they asked us for the title. The people from Racing would stop the bus passing the Pueyrredón Bridge and it would take us fifty minutes to get to the stadium”, continued the ex-footballer emerged in River.
“We tried not to play to the rhythm of the people, but the fundamental thing was the personality and character of the players who did not allow themselves to be carried away by everything that was asked of them”He continued on one of the reasons why the professional team was able to maintain calm in the face of the anxiety of the “academic” fans.
“Our idea was to go out and play the games and win, but not at the pace of the people. The players were the ones who absorbed everything. I am the outsider”he added.
Merlo, current technician of United Defenders of Zárate, recalled one of the talks he had with the squad at the beginning of the second semester of the 2001 season.
“When we started the tournament I told the players that when we were at the top of the tournament we didn’t have to leave it. We had to continue playing well and, furthermore, the players made a barbarous effort”, he expressed. “We knew what we wanted on the pitch, the team was good tactically with very good players and character and that’s how we reached the end”he continued.
“Mustard” also highlighted the champion squad in 2001 as a group with “a lot of character and a lot of personality”, while highlighting the “Balance” that the team had in all sectors of the playing field.
“We were a team with a lot of character and a lot of personality, we attacked inside and outside, with (Gerardo) Bedoya and (Martín) Vitali for each side, Milito on the one hand, the diagonals of (Maximiliano) Estévez, the pressure in the middle of (Adrián) Bastia, (Gustavo) Barros Schelotto and (José) Chatruc. The team was well balanced “, he analyzed.
“They complicated us like any team that goes out to find the games, but we were a strong group of character and that also knew how to handle the ball well”He said in reference to one of the virtues of the campus. “At times, the team was not very showy, but it was brave and with a lot of character to play with”, he acknowledged.
“I began to think that we could be champions after the game we played at home against Colón de Santa Fe, who had a very good team, in which we won 2 to 1, but one thing is to think about it and another is to crown it”, said about the meeting that from his point of view it was a hinge to lead the team to the title after 35 years without achievements at the local level.
Merlo, 71, also recalled the 1-1 draw with Velez, valid for the 19th. and last day of 2001 Opening Tournament, played on December 27 at the stadium Jose Amalfitani.
“It was ‘the game’ for us because with winning or drawing it was already useful to us to be champions. It was not a nice game because Vélez went out to play with everything and in the last play until (Gastón) Sessa -Vélez’s goalkeeper- went to head and despite not having played well we were able to achieve the goal “, he expressed.
“At the end of the game I felt a lot of joy, I ended up stressed, we shared dinner with the boys and to this day I receive the constant love of Racing fans”, commented on the moments after having achieved glory as coach of the team of Avellaneda.
The former central midfielder of River He also spoke about the affection that the fans of Racing for twenty years. “All the love that Racing fans give me I live it calmly and I will be eternally grateful for the love I receive every day”, He said.
MerloFinally, he made it clear that he would never become the “albiceleste” first team coach diver, which he directed in three cycles: 2001/03 (champion), 2006/07 and 2013/14. “I would not direct Racing again, I did it twice and as a coach I think I have already fulfilled”, “Mustard” concluded.
Reinaldo Merlo currently directs to Club Atlético Defensores Unidos, from the Buenos Aires town of Zarate, a team that plays in the First Metropolitan B.
The Racing 2001 champion scored 42 points (one more than his shooting guard) River) during the 19 games played in which they won 12 wins, six draws and a single loss (3-1 against Boca, by the 15th. date).
Source From: Ambito
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