Almeyda wary of Superclasico friendlies

River Plate coach Matias Almeyda has voiced his concerns over the upcoming friendlies against bitter rivals Boca Juniors.

The Superclasico clashes were originally cancelled, but will now take place on January 25 in Chaco followed by another match four days later in Mendoza.

Pressure from advertisers and television companies, who had already purchased the rights for the matches, was key in making sure the encounters went ahead.

Almeyda, however, is wary about the potential for ugly clashes between the two clubs’ supporter groups.

The two clubs did not meet in the 2011 Argentine Primera Division Apertura – won by Boca – after River was relegated to the Nacional B at the end of the 2010 Clausura.

“The circumstances are not right because River are in the Nacional B and Boca are champions of the A. Are the River fans going to put up with the insults? Are we in the hotel going to put up with them? It is going to be a disaster,” Almeyda told ESPN.

“We have a lot more to lose. But what’s done is done, we will face the champions of the A. It will be great.”

Almeyda added that the friendlies were a risky proposition him and his men: “These games are useless. If you win, they are forgotten within three days and if you lose coaches have even lost their jobs,” he said.

The former midfielder has enjoyed a positive start to his coaching career at the Monumental, leading River to second place in the Nacional B and an automatic promotion place at the end of the Apertura.