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

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

The rojiblanco coach regretted Maizon Rodríguez’s early red card, although he avoided blaming the youngster for the loss. “We were down a man 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 stressing that Unión had created clear chances before the Avellaneda side scored.

Despite the defeat, the coach praised the squad’s commitment: “They ran all game, went toe to toe, and left their hearts on the field. I’m proud of the group because they made a huge effort all year long.”

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 doesn’t change anything. I need to clear my head, think calmly, and then analyze many sporting matters together with the club,” he said.

The coach also referred to the emotional toll 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 failures. The psychological toll is very great,” he said.

In addition, Madelón pointed out the financial and sporting difficulties Unión went through during the transfer window: “It was a very austere transfer window. We brought in few players and managed with what we had. We always look to develop young players and compete.”

On the overall assessment of the semester, the coach believed 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 words 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 still feels with the Santa Fe club, although he insisted that he must first carry out a deep self-assessment 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.