Ezequiel Medrán leaves Colón: «I didn't quit, they pushed me out» | OneFootball

After Colón’s leadership decided to bring his stint as head coach to an end, Ezequiel Medrán stopped by the 4 de Junio training ground this Monday to say goodbye to the professional squad. After meeting with the players, the now former coach gave a lengthy press conference in which he explained how he learned of the decision, defended the work that had been done, and left a message of gratitude for the club. Medrán revealed that the official communication came on Sunday night, after the 1-1 draw against Acassuso, and maintained that, despite the team’s form, he was still convinced they could fight until the very end for promotion.

“I was convinced we could fight until the end”

The coach explained that he received the call from the club’s leadership while they were meeting to analyze whether the project would continue. “Yesterday in the late afternoon I got a call from Matías Vidoz. They told me they had made the decision to end the process and that there would be no continuity,” he said.

Far from agreeing with the decision, Medrán said he laid out his arguments before accepting it. “I gave them my position. I was convinced we were going through a moment we had to endure and that we had the ability to fight until the end. The decision had already been made and I accept it, although I do not understand it,” he stated.

He even stressed that the team was still in a promising position in the standings. “We’re in a significant spot in the table. We were third. Obviously our ambition was much greater, but we believed we could keep growing,” he noted.

“I did not resign, I was removed from the position”

One of the strongest moments of the press conference came when he was asked about possible self-criticism. “I didn’t walk away. I was removed from the position,” he replied firmly.

Even so, he acknowledged that there are always aspects to improve. “There are always things to fix and improve. I take responsibility for everything related to the team’s performance. I always discussed internal matters with the leadership, the manager, and the squad. I will never break those codes,” he stressed.

Regarding the reasons that led the board to make the decision, he avoided stirring controversy. “I don’t know what led the leadership to decide this. You live in Santa Fe and perhaps have a clearer idea of how everything was handled. I’m not going to focus on that,” he said.

Pride in Colón’s performance against Acassuso

Although the draw against Acassuso ended up being his last match in charge of the team, Medrán said he was satisfied with his players’ response. “I’m proud of how the team stood up for me on the field. They tried to win the match until the very end, despite everything that had happened during the week,” he said.

The coach admitted that the lead-up to the match affected the team’s performance. “Feelings were generated that are not the right ones for competing, but even so the team responded well,” he analyzed.

He defended the sporting project and the work with youth players

Another key part of his farewell was tied to the institutional project he said he had promoted during nearly a year in charge of the club. “We didn’t work only for the first team. Club players made their debuts, we helped many young players grow, and more than 50 footballers came through our training sessions as sparring partners so we could monitor their development,” he explained.

He also highlighted the changes implemented in the professional structure. “Today the club has digitized physical data, medical reports, evaluations, and an institutional organization that didn’t exist before. I believe we left important foundations for the future,” he said.”

Whoever comes next will find a squad that is ready

“Before closing his press conference, Medrán said the next coach would find a competitive team. “I have no doubt that the squad is ready to fight for important things. The coach who arrives will give it his own stamp, but he will find a group that is well prepared physically and professionally,” he stated.

He also avoided blaming others for the lack of reinforcements in the last transfer window. “I don’t like looking for culprits. I always take responsibility for what falls to me. Everything that had to be discussed with the directors and the manager was already discussed personally,” he noted.

A message of thanks for the entire Colón world

In the final stretch of his farewell, Medrán set aside any differences and chose to express gratitude. “I’m grateful to have been part of an institution as great as Colón. I enjoyed it passionately until the very last day,” he said.

He also had words for the club staff, employees, medical team, kit managers, and the fans. “I came to a club that was fighting relegation with the intention of getting it out of that situation and fighting for promotion. What hurts me most is not having been able to make it all the way while trying to achieve that goal,” concluded a visibly emotional Medrán, hours after officially ending his spell as coach of the Sabalero side.

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