River lost 2-1 to Rosario Central at the Gigante de Arroyito, and Marcelo Gallardo did not hide his frustration. Muñeco's team, which had taken the lead with a goal by Miguel Borja after a great assist from Juan Fernando Quintero, ended up losing due to goals by Franco Ibarra and Ignacio Malcorra, in a match marked by the sending off of Juan Portillo that conditioned Núñez's team.
After the match, Gallardo faced the microphones with his characteristic composure, but he hinted at his displeasure with the refereeing and with what he defined as "the system." "I'm not going to be the only one who always speaks. You end up very alone... you have no choice but to adapt to the system and stay silent, because whoever speaks is sanctioned," said the coach, in statements that resonated strongly in Argentine football.
The coach delved deeper into his criticism with a restrained tone, though without giving up conviction: "Those of us who understand this see how it develops with certain attitudes. There's no need for a penalty to be called against you." At the same time, he sought to focus the message on football: "We came to play determined until the sending off. That conditioned us, being down to ten is difficult. We have to be smarter because this keeps happening to us."
