Madelón on Junín win: Delighted for Rafa, he's seizing his chance | OneFootball

Unión’s coach, Leonardo Madelón, highlighted the team’s decisiveness and the well-executed plan in the 3-1 victory over Sarmiento. “We were practical,” he said.

Unión delivered an important blow away from home, and their coach, Leonardo Madelón, did not hide his satisfaction after the 3-1 win against Sarmiento in Junín—a result that served to confirm the team’s growth in the Torneo Apertura and to leave behind a stadium that has historically been elusive.

“We were a very practical team. In the first half, we closed well in the final third and broke out with clarity. We got forward and our wide midfielders scored goals,” explained the coach, who valued the team’s effectiveness at key moments in the match.

The coach also analyzed the second half and acknowledged that the team had to hold onto the result in a more demanding context. “In the second half, we scored another goal and that made the opponent push forward and complicate things for us. Maybe we made a mistake there, but we handled it well. The substitutions were good and the team felt the fatigue, so there will surely be some changes.”

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A plan executed to perfection by Unión

Madelón emphasized that the victory was the result of a clear idea, well worked on during the week. “It was a very good first half, where we did everything we needed to do. The game plan was right, and this time we were fortunate that our chances went in,” he noted.

In that regard, he highlighted the contribution of some players who are gaining prominence. “I’m very happy for Rafa (Profini), because maybe last year he didn’t play much and now it’s his time to step up. He’s making the most of it. Also (Brahian) Cuello, who still needs rhythm, but found the goal. He’s a dynamic player, strong in the air, and gives a lot of effort,” he explained.

The coach also underlined the team’s collective commitment, especially in less visible tasks. “I really liked that the attacking midfielders scored. And Chelo (Marcelo Estigarribia) did an enormous job—one of those that many don’t see, but are fundamental,” he said.

A team that doesn’t speculate and keeps growing

Beyond the result, Madelón focused on the identity the team is building. “I’m happy because Unión played well. It’s a team that fights, has good intentions, and never speculates. We give everything in every match,” he stated.

He also considered that preparation was key to achieving the objective. “We won this match at Casa Unión, because we prepared for it ahead of time. We had to play with intelligence, without thinking about other things, and the team responded,” he maintained.

The coach also valued the internal competition as one of the pillars of the squad’s current form. “There’s a very healthy competition, everyone is involved, and that’s perhaps the best thing we have,” he highlighted.

What’s next: another tough challenge

Looking ahead, Madelón made it clear that the focus is on maintaining performance. “Unión is doing well, convinced that everything is very close and that the goal is to keep growing. We could have a few more points, but we’re competing,” he analyzed. Finally, he anticipated a new challenge away from home: “A very tough match against Instituto is coming up. We have the logistics in place and the suitcase packed. We’re not thinking about anything other than the next match.”

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