Paso a paso decía "Mostaza" (SPA-ENG)

Step by step said "Mustard"

The title will surely not be understood by most readers who are not part of the Argentine football environment, so here is the story of this phrase and its creator, a coach who had been a central piece in River Plate years before.

Racing Club de Avellaneda has many stories of glory but also several of suffering and extreme anguish, stories that have forged the peculiarity of the club and its fans who gave free rein to unbridled joy over the weekend, where many spectators outside the club have been shocked by the reaction of a large number of people after winning the Copa Sudamericana after 36 years without international titles.

Back in 1998, a tragedy that had begun years before was unfolding at the Avellaneda club, poor financial management, unscrupulous leaders, the hooligans involved in the club's business, and many other things that led to an almost certain bankruptcy of the club and its disappearance, at least that is what the trustee that the AFA appointed to intervene in the management and determine the seriousness of the problem indicated in a press conference.

But the fans mobilized, filled the stadium at each presentation of the team, made collections, concerts, and anything that brought in money to save the club was used. Racing survived, stumbling and almost relegated, but continued playing and that was what mattered.

In 2000, a measure was taken that saved the club, it was decided to have it managed by a private company, Blanca y Celeste S.Ad, something that today the AFA is firmly opposed to for reasons that no one knows specifically but it is suspected that they are not good, it is a world trend that has improved football everywhere, but here we are special.

Back to the topic, in 2001 Reinaldo "Mostaza" Merlo arrived as coach of the first team and the magic began to happen, they played well and won, the eleven that entered gave everything of themselves as if they were risking their lives in each ball and in each match. After several games the team gained confidence and continued the winning path, they asked Merlo if they were going to be champions and he always answered the same: "There is still a long way to go, let's go step by step."

The "step by step" became a crutch, the journalists asked after each match even knowing that Merlo would answer the same, I suspect that it became more of a superstition than a sincere answer.

Racing was champion of the Apertura tournament in 2001, 35 years after the last tournament won.

Reinaldo Merlo, whose nickname was "mustard" because of the color of his hair, spent his entire career as a player in River Plate, a team with which he was crowned champion 7 times in Argentine soccer, including that first title after 15 years of drought for the club with the red band in 1975. He never stood out as a great player but his strong game, his special characteristic of never giving up a ball, and his ironclad defense made it possible for him to be called up to the national team where he played 3 matches.

As a coach he has not been very successful either, with only two titles, one with River and the one just mentioned with Racing, however, his charisma, the enormous triumph obtained and the great joy he gave to the Racing fans ended up consecrating him definitively. Step by step he won the hearts of many Argentines who love and respect him.

Reinaldo "Mostaza" Merlo has his statue at the entrance to Racing's stadium and yesterday he was asked about the title achieved over the weekend by the academy, he said that Gustavo Costas, current coach of the South American champion, also deserves a statue.