River Plate boss Marcelo Gallardo has hit out at the ‘shameful’ decision to play the Copa Libertadores final in Madrid.
Gallardo’s side will face the second leg of their final against Buenos Aires rivals Boca Juniors in Real Madrid’s Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday evening.
The tie is poised at 2-2 after the first leg last month, with the second leg at River’s Monumental stadium called off after Boca players were injured upon their arrival.
“To play the Copa Libertadores 10,000 kilometres away from home is shameful,” Gallardo told reporters, in quotes cited by Diario AS.
“In the future we will look back at this day and reflect upon it (the decision) because our supporters have been robbed of the chance to watch it.
“There is not anything we can do and maybe the next time this will be to another team, but this choice is ridiculous and I cannot say more than that on how I feel at the moment.
“We need to get ready for the match and to prepare in the best way possible, to defend the interests of our supporters, because nobody else will.”