Otamendi Speaks Out After River Plate’s Defeat: ‘Those Who Hide Don’t Know What It Means to Represent a Big Club’

Nicolás Otamendi, the World Cup-winning defender who returned to River Plate after 16 years, made his debut for the club on Sunday and was the only player to stop and speak with reporters after a painful 1-0 home loss to Barracas Central in the opening round of the Clausura tournament. The 38-year-old, who had played in the World Cup final just six days earlier, did not hide from the disappointment.

“Those who hide don’t know what it means to represent a big club,” Otamendi said in the mixed zone after the match. “We have to turn the page, start adding points, and give the younger players the calm they need in a difficult moment. The kids have to adapt to representing a big club. This is reversed by working and not giving up.”

A debut overshadowed by defeat

Otamendi started as a central defender and wore the captain’s armband in his first match back at the club he supported as a boy. The game at the Monumental was a frustrating affair: River controlled possession but lacked sharpness in the final third, and Barracas Central scored the winner in the second half. The result left the home crowd restless, with whistles heard at the final whistle.

After the match, the squad had agreed not to speak to the media. Head coach Eduardo Coudet’s interim replacement, Marcelo Broggi, did not hold a press conference, and players walked past journalists in silence. Otamendi, the last to leave the dressing room, stopped to sign autographs for waiting fans before agreeing to a brief interview.

“We need to transmit to the younger players that the season is just beginning,” he said. “It has to be hell for every team that comes here. We must give back the identity to River.”

Key facts

Focus on the road ahead

Otamendi, who joined River after a successful spell at Benfica, made it clear that he did not return to Argentina for a holiday. “I came to the club I am a fan of, but without losing focus: I did not come to Argentina on vacation. I came to fulfil the objectives that this shirt demands. I will give my maximum and prepare for every match as if it were a final.”

He also looked ahead to River’s midweek fixture against Gimnasia in La Plata. “Victories give you calm, but we must not lose sight of the season’s objectives. We are in a big club that demands everything. Every game is an exam. Football is about results, and on Wednesday we have to turn the page.”

Why this matters for River Plate supporters

Otamendi’s leadership and blunt assessment set a tone for a squad that has struggled to find consistency. His experience at the highest level — including two World Cup finals and Champions League campaigns — gives him authority to speak candidly. For River fans, his willingness to face the microphone after a defeat signals that the club’s standards remain high, even in a difficult moment.

The defeat leaves River with work to do in the early stages of the Clausura, but Otamendi’s message suggests that the group is aware of the demands and ready to respond.

Source: Ole – original article at https://www.ole.com.ar/river-plate/river-nicolas-otamendi-barracas-central-capitan-frases-fuertes-debut-esconda_0_PlbFJgAsU2.html