Matías Budiño on Radio Gol: «We need to stop making excuses» | OneFootball

Matías Budiño, Colón’s goalkeeper, spoke on Radio Gol 96.7 and was interviewed by Darío Pignata on the program ADN. In an in-depth conversation, the keeper assessed the first part of the tournament, admitted he struggled at the start, backed Ezequiel Medrán’s playing philosophy, and made it clear that in the second half there will be no margin for error if they want to achieve the major goal of promotion.

Self-criticism over the points dropped in Santa Fe

Colón finished the first stage of the championship in fourth place, five points off the top. When evaluating the points total, Budiño said he was satisfied but not content: «We dropped some points along the way, especially at home in these last few matches, and I think that’s what left us in fourth place».

Looking back at the matches that still sting, the goalkeeper recalled the opening rounds and the recent defeat against Chaco: «We did more than enough to win that match (against Ferro)… the other day against Chaco, I think we couldn’t find a way into the game, those matches where the opponents sit deep against us». About that last game, he regretted the unfortunate own-goal play: «The ball was coming to me… Mauro tried to clear it with his head and put it into the top corner… we ended up losing an unbelievable match».

A personal turning point

Budiño acknowledged that his first steps in goal for Colón were not easy because of the weight of expectations, but he highlighted one key match that changed his mindset: «I think the match against All Boys was decisive for me, I started to feel important, to feel much more confident».

From that point on, the goalkeeper felt an improvement in his performances: «I think I’ve looked more solid in these last few matches… and when I had to step in, I think I did it well; when the team needed me, I was able to respond».

Medrán’s message: No excuses away from home

One of the most debated issues is the team’s contrast when it plays away from Santa Fe. Far from looking for excuses in refereeing or stadium dimensions, the goalkeeper was blunt: «We have to stop with, I don’t know if they’re excuses, but at least those sayings like ‘well, the pitch, we’re away from home’; the truth is we have to put that aside… this second half has to be like that, every match has to be a final».

He also dismissed any idea of a cautious approach from the coaching staff outside the Brigadier López: «Medrán’s message is clear: both at home and away, we have to be the protagonists of the match».

The fans’ demands and the weight of the shirt

When asked whether Colón is expected to play attractive football or simply be effective, the keeper showed he fully understands the mood in the stands: «The team can play well, it can play better than it does… but the fans want you to win, whether that means lumping it forward or playing one-twos… nobody will care if you achieved promotion by playing well for 20 matches; winning is what gets you to the final objective».

Finally, Budiño said he was moved by everyday life in Santa Fe and the scale of the club:

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