Alejandro Russo's big-picture view of Colón: «A team on the up» | OneFootball

On the eve of the Reserve team’s match against Atlético Rafaela, coach Alejandro Russo spoke with UNO and analyzed the team’s current situation.

“We had a good week of training, despite the heat, which was really intense. We’re going in with the best expectations to play a good match,” said the coach, setting the tone for the team’s preparation.

“The results don’t reflect what this team really is”

Russo was clear in his assessment of the campaign: beyond their place in the standings, he believes the team’s performances have been better than the numbers suggest.

“It’s a team that is growing. The results don’t reflect what we’ve really been, because in every match we were close,” he explained.

As an example, he recalled the last match against Lanús: “It slipped away from us in the 47th minute against the unbeaten league leaders. In the second half we had three or four clear chances and couldn’t finish them. We were frustrated, but the team showed character.”

The relationship with the First Team, a key piece at Colón

One of the main aspects of his work is the daily connection with the senior squad led by Ezequiel Medrán. In that regard, Russo highlighted the constant communication.

“Every day I have lunch with the First Team coaching staff, and we exchange thoughts on players and needs. There’s great harmony and a lot of communication,” he said.

He also explained how they coordinate with the players who drop down to the Reserve side: “Sometimes we talk about the minutes they need or specific positions the coach wants to see them in. I’m always available.”

The project that drew him to Colón

Russo also spoke about his arrival at the club at the beginning of the year and what motivated him to accept the challenge. “When I came to play here last year and saw the stadium and the fans, I said Colón is a club that deserves to be in the top division,” he recalled.

And he added: “When they approached me, I saw the training ground, the potential, and the serious intention to build a project with youth players. That convinced me.”

The coach stressed the importance of constantly watching the youth divisions and projecting talent.

“I’m at the training ground all the time, watching sessions and keeping an eye on the kids,” he said.

In that context, he highlighted the case of Thiago Vera: “He’s a midfielder who can adapt to several positions. We saw him in training, moved him up to the Reserve team at 15, and now he’s been called up to the U16 national team. It’s a source of pride.”

Another name he mentioned was goalkeeper Lucas Cuffia, who had involvement with the U20 national team.

“He performed very well when he got his chance, including saving a penalty against Estudiantes. He’s very happy and he’s a goalkeeper with a great future,” he said.

An identity under construction

Beyond the names, Russo made it clear what the main goal of his work is. “We want the boys to believe in what they’re doing. We’ve already gone through an adaptation stage, and now the team is more organized, which allows us to be more ambitious and press higher up the pitch,” he explained.

Looking ahead to the match against Atlético Rafaela, the coach put the focus on the process rather than urgency. “The idea is for the boys to keep growing, regardless of the result,” he said.

In a demanding context, with high temperatures and constant competition, Colón’s Reserve team continues on its path with a clear goal: to develop players for the First Team and sustain a long-term project.

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