Martín Demichelis speaks about his departure from River Plate and his new challenge in the Champions League. The former manager of the Argentine club left his position in July 2024 to take over at Germany's RB Leipzig, where he made his debut in Europe's top competition this Thursday against Italian side Como.
Demichelis left River Plate with a record of 52 wins, 17 draws and 18 losses. He won three titles during his tenure: the Liga Profesional, the Trofeo de Campeones and the Supercopa Argentina. His final match in charge was a 1-0 victory over Sarmiento with a goal from Franco Mastantuono. Currently, River Plate sits eleventh in the Liga Profesional Argentina with 7 points from seven matches, according to our standings.
How does Demichelis assess his River Plate period?
Martín Demichelis expressed mixed feelings about his time at the club. He said he took over during the biggest transition in River Plate's recent history, referring to the departure of key figures. "I was, I am and I will be a fan. And River is so big that it's above all names.", stated the 45-year-old coach. He acknowledged making mistakes but emphasized he always acted with a sense of belonging.
The team Demichelis left behind shows positive recent form with three wins and two draws in their last five matches. They just defeated Banfield 3-2 on August 30th and maintain a two-game winning streak. However, the team trails league leaders Argentinos Juniors by nine points in the standings.
What challenges does he face in the Champions League?
Demichelis made his Champions League debut with Leipzig after previous experiences at Mallorca, Rayados de Monterrey and the German club itself. "I prepared, I dreamed it and now is the moment to prove it", declared the manager. He will face teams like José Mourinho's Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, though he clarifies he doesn't consider himself a favorite but excited to compete.
The coach mentioned the influence of colleagues like Enzo Maresca and Willy Caballero from his Manchester City days. He also expressed admiration for Diego Simeone and Manuel Pellegrini. Demichelis maintains his working methodology since starting with youth teams at Bayern Munich, adapting to each culture while keeping basic principles.
How does his working methodology function?
Martín Demichelis described an intense routine starting at 7 a.m. And ending around 9 p.m. He doesn't sleep at the club, preferring to maintain separation between personal and professional life. He works closely with scouts to identify reinforcements that fit his style.
His playing philosophy seeks aggressive and dominant teams. "I want to attack with passes and press as a weapon", explained the coach. He wants Argentinians to identify with the football he proposes at Leipzig, remembering with honor the moments shared with Lionel Messi on the national team before his retirement.
What is River Plate's current situation?
Demichelis avoided commenting on River Plate's current situation, maintaining silence about the club he managed. Meanwhile, the team faces a key match against Independiente Rivadavia on September 6th at the Monumental. This opponent occupies sixth position in the table, according to our fixtures.
River Plate has scored 7 goals and conceded 8 this season, with a negative -1 goal difference. The team needs to improve its performance to close the gap with the leaders. The next home game represents an opportunity to add three important points before this phase of the tournament concludes.
The current squad can be checked on our squad page, which details all departures and arrivals since the Demichelis era. The club seeks to stabilize its performance after an irregular start to the domestic championship.
