Díaz: Colón are top-flight rivals, reflects on Aurinegro’s form | OneFootball

Deportivo Madryn is preparing to conclude its preparation phase this Saturday with a friendly match against Olimpo de Bahía Blanca. Due to the renovations being carried out at the "Aurinegro" stadium, the match will be moved to the facilities of the Huracán de Trelew club, thus ensuring the comfort and safety of the fans. This match will mark the end of a preseason that included a tour of Buenos Aires, where the team gained experience against the reserves of Argentinos Juniors, Argentino de Quilmes, and Acassuso.

On the eve of the debut, coach Cristian Díaz analyzed the magnitude of the opponent they will face on February 14 at the Brigadier López stadium. Regarding the Santa Fe institution, the coach was clear: “Colón is a First Division team that finds itself in this situation. When choosing a destination, it is a priority for any footballer, being a champion of Argentine football and a finalist in the Copa Sudamericana.” He also acknowledged the pressure surrounding the club from the Centenario neighborhood, stating that “for Colón, not reaching the final is not good; everything good that happens to them is part of the obligation they have as an institution.”

Regarding the objectives of the Patagonian team, Díaz aims to capitalize on the momentum from the great campaign carried out in 2025. The coach emphasized that the category is the toughest in the country and that success will depend on group harmony: “If we achieve good coexistence and healthy internal competition, we can invite ourselves to dream of doing important things.” For the coach, maintaining the core of the squad is fundamental, as “keeping the backbone allows us to have alternatives and options” to implement his game plan on the field.

Finally, the coach referred to the emotional return of Mauricio Nievas, the goalkeeper who survived a cardiac episode during training. Díaz highlighted the importance of prevention and medical training in professional sports: “It was a very unpleasant situation we experienced, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. I always take advantage of what happened to raise awareness about the importance of resuscitation.” Although the goalkeeper's sporting future is uncertain after his operation, the coach concluded with a human reflection:

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