Unión kick off pre-season with squad in top shape: “They impressed us” | OneFootball

Unión kicked off the 2026 preseason, and the technical staff's assessment was clear: the red and white team returned to work on Friday afternoon, January 2, and showed a physical condition that exceeded expectations. “The reality is that we have been pleasantly surprised. The boys did their homework,” stated Augusto Madelón.

The break plan was key for Unión

The good response had prior work behind it. During December, the technical staff maintained constant contact with the players to emphasize the importance of the physical plan sent before the holidays, knowing that the schedule would demand a tight preparation.

“We were able to verify that they followed the entire plan we sent for the break,” explained Madelón. In that sense, he highlighted the constant follow-up: “We spent all of December talking to them, explaining the importance of that period because we knew the start of the tournament would be quite early.”

Higher intensities than expected

The good overall condition allowed for accelerated progress as soon as formal work began. According to the physical department, the planning had to be adjusted on the fly due to the squad's quick response. “We were able to start working at slightly higher intensities than we thought, due to the good condition the boys arrived in,” noted Madelón, making it clear that the physical foundation facilitated the preseason development.

The planning includes nine days of work in Santa Fe, taking advantage of the facilities and familiarity with the location, before moving to Uruguay. “Here we do all the initial analytical work and already start incorporating a lot of tactical content,” explained Madelón. He added: “Then, in Uruguay, we will have a week of game rhythm with two friendlies, on Wednesday and Saturday.”

Continuity and demand

With the same technical staff and a core squad that remains, the idea is to deepen what was done in the previous semester and take a step further. “The proposal from day one was to keep growing,” stated Madelón. “We found a very healthy squad, very receptive to training loads, and with the knowledge we gained over these six months, we decided to continue along that line.” He even acknowledged that there will be greater demands: “In some areas, we are going to push a little more, and the boys are responding very well.”

David Gutiérrez, also a physical trainer for Unión, referred to how modern football forces changes to old methods, especially due to the reduced preparation times. “There used to be much more time; today everything is shorter, and you have to adapt to the schedule,” he explained. In this context, he highlighted the importance of working from the start with real game situations: “Players prefer working with the ball, and today, methodologically, that's how it's done from the beginning.”

The overall assessment confirmed what the technical staff already sensed at the end of 2025. “We had finished very well, and the boys arrived in great shape too,” said Gutiérrez, who added: “The evaluations showed us that the squad was in excellent condition in every way.”

Communication and time management

With a tournament start earlier than expected and weeks of intense competition, optimizing time is crucial. “The key lies in organization and good communication,” emphasized Madelón. “We talk a lot with the players, explaining why we do things and what the objectives are.”

He also appreciated the contribution of the Technical Secretariat in the day-to-day: “It facilitates information management and prevents important details from being overlooked.” Unión is already progressing through its preseason with solid foundations. The commitment of the squad, the tight planning, and the initial physical responses support a phrase that sums up the moment: .

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