Leonardo Madelón after Copa Argentina defeat: ‘I need to clear my head’ | OneFootball

After the 2-0 defeat to Independiente in the Copa Argentina, Unión de Santa Fe coach Leonardo Madelón gave a lengthy press conference in which he analyzed the elimination, defended his players, and left open the question of whether he will remain in charge of the team.

The Unión manager regretted Maizon Rodríguez’s early red card, although he avoided blaming the youngster for the defeat. “We were down to 10 men very early against a big team. They’re young kids, they can make mistakes. Maizon had great games throughout the year, and this is part of the learning process,” Madelón said, also noting that Unión had created clear chances before the Avellaneda side’s goals.

Despite the loss, the coach praised the squad’s commitment: “They ran the whole match, went toe to toe, and left their hearts out there. I’m proud of the group because they made a huge effort throughout the year.”

Regarding his future, Madelón confirmed that he still has not made a final decision and said he needs to rest before evaluating the next steps. “This defeat changes nothing. I need to clear my head, think calmly, and then analyze many sporting situations together with the club,” he said.

The coach also referred to the emotional strain of the job and recalled how quickly the mood changes in Argentine football. “A few days ago we were heroes, and then it seemed like we were a failure. The psychological toll is very heavy,” he said.

In addition, Madelón highlighted the economic and sporting difficulties Unión faced during the transfer window: “It was a very austere window. We brought in few players and made do with what we had. We always try to develop young players and compete.”

As for the overall assessment of the semester, the coach felt the team had a positive campaign: “I see this year as a success. The fans are grateful and the team always competed. Maybe we lacked a little more maturity to manage some matches.”

He also had special praise for Mateo Del Blanco, one of the squad’s standout players: “He surprised me all year. He was a midfielder, and we worked with him as a full-back. He had a tremendous season and earned recognition.”

Finally, Madelón made clear the sense of belonging he feels with the Santa Fe club, although he insisted that he must first carry out deep self-criticism before deciding on his future: “I’m happy at Unión, it’s my home. But now it’s time to think, rest, and analyze what’s best for everyone.”

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