Medrán at Colón: “We’re laying solid foundations to contend” | OneFootball

In an in-depth analysis of his team’s performance, Colón’s head coach, Ezequiel Medrán, spoke with Fabián Tavella for the program En el Área. From the Predio 4 de Junio, the coach detailed how the new squad was put together, his football philosophy, and the tactical adjustments needed to face the tournament.

Squad Management and New Signings

Building a team almost from scratch was the first big challenge of the season: “The engineering of assembling a squad and then making it work takes a certain amount of time… almost 15 new players, so to speak, who didn’t know each other.” Regarding the arrival of key figures like Federico Lértora, the coach highlighted his role: “Fede has a way of acting day to day, a consistency… I have no doubt that over the course of the year, from a football standpoint, he’s going to contribute a lot to us.”

For Medrán, reaching consensus with the club management was key in this process: “We have managed things very well, with fluidity, with very respectful dialogue… everything was very consensual.”

Methodology and Style of Play

The coach emphasized the importance of tactical adaptability: “Normally, in my team, I adapt to the player’s level, their performance. Many times I’ve played with a second striker, with a playmaker… today, with the system we’re working on, you give freedom to the two wingers.”

Beyond the names, Medrán is looking for a team with grit: “What I also value about the team is how competitive it is… the team has the character to play to win.” He also asked for patience to find the team’s footballing flair: “I think the fluidity of play will appear through familiarity… knowing when to make the pass or having the patience to circulate the ball until the spaces open up.”

Tactical Aspects: Set Pieces and Penalties

Medrán did not shy away from points to improve, being self-critical about the aerial strategy: “Today (set pieces) are a weakness to improve. In my career as a coach, it’s one of the foundations, I dedicate a lot of time to it… it’s a very valuable resource for me.” Regarding recent mistakes, he explained: “Maybe we’re not coordinating the movement to enter together with the delivery, but we’ve noticed it and we keep working on it.”

As for penalty kicks, after Alan Bonansea’s miss, the coach was clear about his selection method: “I always give the freedom to whoever feels best at that moment. You point towards Nacho Lago and Bonansea, but forcing someone, no; whoever feels comfortable, the guy grabs the ball and takes the shot.”

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