Andrés Yllana on his time at Colón: "They demanded players and tactics" | OneFootball

Andrés Yllana revealed the reasons why he stopped being the coach of Colón, emphasizing: «Without institutional support, it is impossible to implement deep changes».

The former coach of Colón, Andrés Yllana, broke his silence after his abrupt departure from the club following the controversial defeat against Mitre de Santiago del Estero, a match that had to be resumed just hours after its suspension due to incidents in the north stand. In an extensive conversation with Mundo Ascenso, the coach discussed the context of his time at the club, internal difficulties, his relationship with the players and management, and the lessons he learned from the experience.

The Explanations of Chueco Yllana

“I needed to make significant changes in the team. It wasn't just about tactics or technique, but also about how the group's dynamics were lived, the energy that was generated. Often, with good energy and an irregular team, you achieve more than with a great squad and a bad attitude,” Yllana explained.

For him, a 360-degree change in the functioning and mentality of the squad was essential, something he couldn't achieve due to the lack of support from the management: “They wanted to impose certain players and strategies on me. They didn't let me make the decisions I believed necessary to change the dynamics and the constant defeat atmosphere.”

The former coach recalled that upon arriving at the club, he found a group already formed by previous processes: “I took over a squad that came from other coaches, with some new guys and others with more time at the club. It wasn't a matter of quality, but of energy and moments. A team becomes a winner or a loser depending on how you handle those situations.”

Regarding communication with the players, Yllana admitted the difficulty of conveying tough decisions: “Telling a key player that they are not in your plans is not easy. You have to be smart, measured, and do it with institutional support. If you don't have it, the message gets diluted and doesn't get executed. That's what happened to me.” He also highlighted the importance of understanding each player's attitude: “Not everyone reacts the same; some accept it, others get uncomfortable. You have to measure each situation and not generalize.”

Regarding the interrupted match against Mitre due to incidents in the north stand, Yllana explained the situation: “Security didn't allow us to act as we would have liked. The most sensible thing was to stay and protect the players. That photo summarizes the complexity of the moment: it wasn't about technical decisions, but about logistics and security.”

The coach also reflected on the relationship with the management and how to approach the transfer market: “The initial plan of the management sought to recover a sense of belonging by bringing back players who had already worn Colón's jersey. But to change the mentality of a squad, you need quick decisions and support. When that doesn't happen, it's very difficult to implement a project.”

What Yllana Took from His Time at Colón

Regarding his learnings, Yllana was self-critical and aware of the challenge's magnitude: “I don't regret coaching Colón. It's a very big club, with high demands. I learned to handle complex situations, to measure energies and timing, and to understand that without institutional support, it is impossible to implement deep changes.”

The former coach left a clear message about managing a squad in a professional-level club: technique and tactics are important, but energy, communication, and strategic direction are fundamental for a team to transform and achieve results. His time at Colón, although brief, highlighted the difficulty of imposing a project without the necessary support and left lessons that, according to him, will serve him in future experiences.

In conclusion, Andrés Yllana emphasized that his departure was not due to his own incapacity or that of the squad, but to the lack of freedom to implement the changes he deemed essential: “If you want to change a team, you need tools, clear decisions, and support. Without that, even the best project has limitations.”

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