Madelón self-critical after defeat: “We were too passive and sloppy” | OneFootball

​At a press conference after the loss to Talleres, Unión’s coach gave a blunt analysis of how the match unfolded. Clearly animated throughout the ninety minutes from the bench, the manager addressed the team’s footballing shortcomings, lack of possession, and collective breakdowns that prevented his side from holding the result. ​From the opening minutes, the coach’s demeanor reflected a certain concern over the lack of response in midfield. Asked about his noticeable activity and constant instructions from the technical area, he acknowledged that the team never fully managed to settle into the game. ​“I was active because right from the start we couldn’t find a way into the match. We had designed a strategy to take the ball away from them in midfield and break quickly down the flanks, but we were very imprecise.” ​The coach placed special emphasis on the lack of technical precision in first touches and passing, aspects that allowed the opposing side to dominate for long stretches of the first half. ​“We weren’t sharp in possession, we were poor with our touches, and we made a lot of mistakes and had a lot of disconnects that we hadn’t worked on. Every ball we won back, we gave it right back to Talleres.” ​Passivity and the weight of absences ​When asked about the lack of intensity in 50-50 challenges and the difference in tempo seen in the first half, the coach agreed completely with the journalists’ assessment and did not make excuses in evaluating the team’s overall performance. ​“I completely agree that we were very passive. We were too far off in the challenges and lost a lot of loose balls. It’s not something you do on purpose; sometimes you have a bad night and it ends up being a bad game.” ​He also referred to the impact of absences within the squad and the team’s reshuffling in attack: ​“The team feels those absences. It’s like a pyramid: you take one out, then another, and the structure gets complicated. We’re a very young team and we have to find solutions quickly so we can go back to being a tough team.” ​Looking ahead and the need to respond ​Despite the bitterness of the defeat, the coach took full responsibility for the tactical approach and stressed that football demands turning the page immediately: ​“I have to take responsibility, obviously, because that’s how it is. We have to put this game behind us quickly, turn the page, and think about what’s coming on Saturday in Santa Fe. We have what it takes to bounce back.”

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