The Blancos boss is an ex-River Plate player but the the Copa Libertadores final being moved to Madrid do not sit comfortably with him
Real Madrid head coach Santiago Solari conceded to having mixed emotions over the Copa Libertadores final second leg between River Plate and Boca Juniors being moved to the Santiago Bernabeu.
The bitter Buenos Aires rivals were locked at 2-2 ahead of last weekend's scheduled meeting at El Monumental, only for the game to be abandoned twice as a result of an attack on the Boca team bus by River supporters.
CONMEBOL settled on Madrid as the solution in its search for an alternative venue, with the match coming to the Spanish capital on December 9.
That decision has been appealed by both clubs and Solari, who began his professional career with River before moving to Europe, told a news conference he hoped the match would act to salvage the reputation of a celebrated fixture.
"I have opposing views. It's an honour for Madrid to have the final of the Libertadores and the Superclasico of Argentina football," he said.
"I hope a stadium with our history is able to close the chapter of this final, which has been really complicated.
"It's an honour to have this final but I can't stop thinking about why it has been brought here and has to be played an ocean away from Buenos Aires.
"It's broken a lot of hearts what happened. It's a real shame. As an example to children, the fact that there is a tiny part of our society determined to destroy everything is a real shame.
"Let's be optimistic, we hope that everything goes alright here. It didn't over there.
"With the history of our stadium, everything it means, hopefully that helps them to be good guests and to clean the name of this final a bit
"If anything can [help], it's the name of our team and our stadium. Hopefully the people who come here are capable of behaving well."
Madrid are likely to meet the winners in the final of the Club World Cup next month and, although Solari would prefer to see River prevail, he acknowledged his enthusiasm for the Superclasico has waned.
"For me, this game has lost its magic in my heart, to be honest," he added.
"I've lost a bit of interest. It's a shame to say it but it's true.
"I'll say it again, hopefully the final in the Bernabeu can try to wash away what happened and may the best team win.
"Obviously I don't have to tell you who I'll be rooting for."
Hendersons
1
Could you imagine if they did this with the champions league final in South America or North America the outrage that would happen? Seems weird and a money run by CONMEBOL
pygmy
0
I’m so confused why they can’t just play it in South America.
RichardAllen
0
Well, at least it's better than Doha. Madrid is better connected with Argentina and there is a sizeable Argentine community in Spain.
Alexanderalan
0
It's going to be full of tourists.
reasonable
0
This match belongs to Madrid as much as it belongs to Doha and as much as that Barcelona match belongs to the US. How about we play the Champions League Final in Beijing?
Polaroider
0
I think this pretty much guarantees that we'll see a CL final in the States within 6 years.
Radionic
0
Oh but if it was La Liga final played outside of Spain..
iunderstandl
0
There's no way in hell, too, that LaLiga's game abroad does not go ahead now. The federation's case was already weak due to their setting precedent with their supercopa in Tangiers. Now this. It's the future, boys. The game's changing more each day.
Teresalambert
0
Libertadores de América will be played in España... There's SO MANY people rolling in their graves right now.
Mattmarlon
0
If the Copa Libertadores can be played on a different continent, in Spain, then the Spanish teams can play on another continent, too, right?
FCBneuer
0
Conmebol better pay for the remodeling that will be needed after the match lol
Jackys
0
genuine question: what fans are going to be allowed to attend, if any? are river banned? i guess boca can't go because the first was at their home and away fans are banned. so just neutrals?
Grancegad
0
Libertadores Final - World Tour 2018.
Thonas
0
are there any stadiums in the world we can rule out?? other than the ones it was supposed to be played in of course
wanzs
0
Really makes the competition and by extension South American football look bad as a whole, even more so if they have to move the final out of the continent.
Olivekiss
0
2019 final will be on Portugal for sure
Bobraper
0
When are tickets released
Samowen
0
I think they should have it in Canada. Everyone will get high on marijuana and Canadians will make them feel welcome. An alternative will be Russia...
collection
0
I actually wanted this final to be played in Saudi Arabia and I wanted River & Boca ultras to go there to cause a trouble. And, then we wait for the free courts verdict.
proverbs
0
With all the bidding war going on, this match feels like a preseason friendly at this point
juggernaut
0
As an Argentine that has no horse in this race, this soap opera cannot get any more entertaining. What will happen next? I can't wait for the next controversy.
sunny21
0
so do we rename the cup now? Libertadores seems a lot less fitting if it needs to be played in one of the two countries most of them were liberated from
patrhave
0
Spanish police can be pretty brutal, so think again if you want to create chaos Argentinos.
521Jack
0
Funny how the last ever two leg home and away final has turned into the first ever single leg neutral stadium final.
criticism
0
This gonna be like the Red Wedding at this point.
liverpoli
1
I feel the same way it's going to be amazing