Gandolfi and Raimondi defended themselves after the elimination of America and National

Javier Gandolfi (left) and Diego Raimondi (der.), The national and America coaches, respectively.

Photo: AFP Agency

The elimination of Atlético Nacional by the Copa Libertadores In El Morumbí in front of São Paulo left a deep sinsabor in the fans of Verdolaga. The Antioquia team fell on penalties after drawing 1-1 in the 90 minutes, and coach Javier Gandolfi faced the microphones to give explanations.

“Football does not reward us, this is not due to deserving, but for effectiveness and I think we did not have the necessary to keep this series and I think we did good things in large part,” said the coach, affected by the way the quota escaped the quarterfinals.

One of the key points that Gandolfi analyzed was the early goal of São Paulo, a header from André Silva after two minutes that conditioned the start of the match. “Starting a game and having a costume goal surely affected us the first minutes. From 25 minutes the team played 15 meters more advanced. Already in the second half, in large part we handled the game, obviously the rival was going to have transitions and was going to hurt us, but at no time I felt it like that,” explained the Argentine, trying to rescue the reaction of his directed.

The coach also referred to The controversial expulsion of Edwin Cardonawhich came just moments after the draw achieved by Alfredo Morelos from the penalty point. “The tie arrives and unfortunately we stayed with a man less. So and everything, we handled it well. It was difficult before a rival with hierarchy, who was surely going to make us suffer a little, but we also had situations to win it,” said Gandolfi.

In addition, he recalled: “In the last games we came without knowing the defeat and ending eleven on the court, and that gives us more possibilities of having a positive result.”

Despite the elimination, Gandolfi highlighted the evolution of the team during the 180 minutes of the series. “This was one of the most important objectives we had and unfortunately we were empty -handed. I share that in the 180 minutes the balance is positive, speaking of performance and evolution of the team. Each will have the duel, but this is to win and lose, and today we have to lose. We have to turn the page and prepare for the weekend match,” he concluded, in a message for his players and the fan.

Raimondi also gave his explanations about the elimination of America

Meanwhile, América de Cali also did not survive in the South American Cup. The scarlet team fell in the Maracaná against Fluminense and closed the series with a global adverse 4-1.

His coach, Diego Raimondi, also gave his face at a press conference and admitted that defensive errors were decisive: “The team gave everything on the court, but again there were mistakes that cost us from entry. We paid mistakes that before teams of such hierarchy cannot be committed,” he said with self -criticism.

The technician, however, rescued the offensive proposal of his team in the midst of pressure. “The idea of going to look for a goal was in the outset. We never renounced the ball or the attack amid the pressure of the result and the stage,” said Raimondi, aware that America had no clarity in the last quarter of the court, but that he did maintain the intention of competing before a rival of greater hierarchy.

As for his future, Raimondi was emphatic in not deviating from the immediate way: “We have to think about what is coming. We return from the trip, to focus on the game against Nacional and seeking to be a new starting point. I do not think about my future, I think of the next game,” he stressed, avoiding feeding rumors about possible changes on the bench.

Eleven Caldas took his face

The eliminations of National and America left Colombia with a complicated panorama at the international level. In Libertadores, the Green Paisa was one step away from advancing after a vibrant duel in Brazil, but his lack of effectiveness and individual errors cost him the classification. In South American, America found no answers to compete to a solid and experienced fluminense that resolved the series with authority.

Both coaches agreed at the same point: the need to learn from mistakes and face what comes in the local tournament. For Gandolfi, the priority is not to let frustration affect the performance in the league, while Raimondi seeks that defeat becomes a “new starting point” that allows America, more complicated in the local tournament, correcting structural flaws.

The continental night was not entirely dark for Colombia. Once Caldas signed the exception with an epic performance in Buenos Aires, eliminating Hurricane with double Dayro Moreno and the same as Michael Barrios.

The 'White White' advanced to the quarterfinals of the South American and keeps alive the illusion of seeing a Colombian team in the international fight, supported by the experience of a scorer who continues to write legendary chapters.

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