Iván Delfino after Colón loss: ‘Doubt and 45 wasted minutes aren’t enough’ | OneFootball

After the away defeat to Deportivo Morón, Colón de Santa Fe coach Iván Delfino appeared at the press conference with a self-critical but firm assessment. The Santa Fe side suffered its second consecutive setback in a match marked by five disastrous minutes in the first half that shaped the course of the game.

“The match was at a standstill in the first half and they scored two goals on us in five minutes. Two goals that, talking with the players, we basically scored on ourselves.”

Match analysis: a gifted first half and a reaction after the break

Delfino stressed the lack of solidity in the opening stretch, when the team was undone by inaccuracies and hesitation in 50-50 balls. According to the coach, Colón is a team that struggles to bounce back quickly once it takes a blow on the scoreboard.

“We let doubt take over, and that’s impossible in a match like this. We lost a lot of 50-50 balls in the first half. Then, with wounded pride and after giving away 45 minutes, we went looking for it in the second half, but it wasn’t enough,” the coach explained.

In the second half, the manager highlighted the team’s collective improvement and the effort made to cut the deficit: “I think the second half was entirely ours. We had the chance to equalize, we created a very clear opportunity, and we put in all the effort, but we came away empty-handed in a match that was extremely important for us.”

Search for tactical solutions and the final stretch

Asked about the substitutions made during the match and the team’s structure, Delfino explained what he was aiming for:

“I looked for better distribution and more presence in midfield, and more depth out wide. But if you don’t have circulation, it’s useless. The nerves of trying to chase the game with long balls worked against us.”

Regarding the team’s current form and the dip in recent matches, the coach preferred not to make excuses related to previous squads or limited time working together: “While there are differences compared to other squads that have been working together for years, I won’t use that as an excuse. We have to strengthen our style, stay calmer, and show the self-respect needed to carry out what we practice during the week.”

Injuries and Sarmiento’s return

As for the squad’s physical condition, Delfino confirmed knee issues for two players after contesting 50-50 balls, noting that in Nacho’s case the corresponding medical tests will be carried out.

He also referred to Brian Sarmiento’s return: “You could obviously see his lack of match fitness, but he’s a player who can give us a very important pause. We hope to get him fully fit as soon as possible.”

“We’ll take it one game at a time”

To close, the Sabalero coach delivered a message focused on day-to-day work to face the decisive rounds of the championship:

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