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🇦🇷 Argentina /Sports

Pedro González, from San Lorenzo’s Matador to one of the heroes who ended River’s long wait: “It was incredibly powerful, the whole thing exploded”

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Pedro González, an 80-year-old former right winger, recalls his years with San Lorenzo’s 1968 Matadores and River’s 1975 team that ended an 18-year trophy drought.
  • He describes how he worked with River striker Carlos Morete and explains the positioning and crossing principles he still teaches young players.
  • González continues working in River’s youth setup and says he enjoys passing on the knowledge he gained during 15 years on the field.

Pedro Alexi González still turns café placemats into football pitches. Sitting at Glorias, beside the entrance to the River Museum on Avenida Figueroa Alcorta, the 80-year-old former right winger draws imaginary penalty areas and goalposts with his fingers as he explains the game.

He remembers telling Federico Girotti where to stand when a cross came in: between the two posts, not outside them. Girotti, González says with a laugh, would later admit that he moved away because he had no patience. The story captures the former San Lorenzo and River player’s character: serious about football, but still able to enjoy it as he did when he played.

It was incredibly powerful, the whole thing exploded.

· Pedro GonzálezHe describes the impact of River’s success after the club ended its 18-year wait for a title.

González was part of San Lorenzo’s famous Matadores in 1968 and of the River side that ended the club’s 18-year wait for a title in 1975. He speaks warmly about the football world he calls “my world,” and he now enjoys teaching younger players the lessons gathered during 15 years on the field.

I love this work.

· Pedro GonzálezHe discusses his continuing work with young players at River.

When he arrived at River, he says, he approached striker Carlos Morete with a detailed plan. Great headers such as Norberto Alonso, Daniel Passarella and Víctor Marchetti attacked the far post, González told him. Morete should instead move from the penalty spot toward the near post, where a cross from González, Comelles or Juan José López could give him the entire goal to aim at. “You’re going to see how many goals you score,” González recalls telling him.

Morete did score, and later moved to Las Palmas. González also insists that a winger must understand his No. 9, including his strengths and weaknesses. He criticizes the modern habit of always reaching the byline before crossing. From a position slightly earlier, he says, the winger can shoot, play the ball horizontally to a teammate attacking the near post, or choose another option. Even at 80, González is still teaching football with the same delight, using whatever surface is available as his tactical board.

If you play as a winger, you have to know your No. 9, what he has and what he lacks.

· Pedro GonzálezHe explains the relationship between a winger and the striker receiving his crosses.
About this summary

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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