Alejandro Russo on Colón: «It’s a team on the up» | OneFootball

On the eve of the Reserve team’s match against Atlético Rafaela, coach Alejandro Russo spoke with UNO and analyzed the team’s current situation.

“We had a good week of training, despite the heat, which was really intense. We’re going in with the best expectations of putting together a good match,” the coach said, setting the tone for the preparation.

“The results don’t reflect what this team really is”

Russo was clear in his assessment of the campaign: beyond the team’s position in the standings, he believes the performance level is above what the numbers show.

“It’s a team that is growing. The results don’t reflect what it has really been, because in every match we were close,” he explained.

As an example, he recalled the last match against Lanús: “It slipped away from us in the 47th minute against the unbeaten league leaders. In the second half we had three or four clear chances and couldn’t finish them. We were frustrated, but the team showed character.”

The relationship with the First Team, a key piece at Colón

One of the main aspects of his work is the daily connection with the senior squad led by Ezequiel Medrán. In that regard, Russo highlighted the constant communication.

“Every day I have lunch with the First Team coaching staff, and we exchange views on players and needs. There is great harmony and a lot of communication,” he said.

He also explained how they coordinate the players who drop down to the Reserve team: “Sometimes we talk about the minutes they need or specific positions the coach wants to see them in. I’m always available.”

The project that drew him to Colón

Russo also referred to his arrival at the club at the beginning of the year and what motivated him to accept the challenge. “When I came to play last year and saw the stadium and the fans, I said Colón is a club that deserves to be in the top flight,” he recalled.

And he added: “When they approached me, I saw the training ground, the potential, and the serious intention to build a project with youth players. That convinced me.”

The coach stressed the importance of constantly observing the youth divisions and projecting talent.

“I’m at the training ground all the time, watching sessions and following the kids,” he said.

In that context, he highlighted the case of Thiago Vera: “He’s a midfielder who adapts to several positions. We saw him in training, moved him up to the Reserve team at 15, and now he has been called up to the Under-16 National Team. It’s a source of pride.”

Another of the names he mentioned was goalkeeper Lucas Cuffia, who had involvement with the Under-20 National Team.

“He performed very well when he got his chance, including saving a penalty against Estudiantes. He’s very happy and is a goalkeeper with a great future,” he stated.

An identity under construction

Beyond the individual names, Russo made clear what the main objective of his work is. “We want the boys to believe in what they’re doing. We’ve already gone through an adaptation stage, and now the team is more organized, which allows us to be more ambitious and press higher up the pitch,” he explained.

Ahead of the match against Atlético Rafaela, the coach put the focus on the process over urgency. “The idea is for the boys to keep growing, beyond the result,” he said.

In a demanding context, with high temperatures and constant competition, Colón’s Reserve team continues on its path with a clear objective: to develop players for the First Team and sustain a long-term project.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.