Guillermo Barros Schelotto addressed the media following a difficult outing in Santa Fe, where Vélez Sarsfield fell 2–0 to Unión. The away defeat left El Fortín sliding into the middle tier of the Copa Sudamericana qualification zone on the annual aggregate table and jeopardized their home-field advantage heading into the upcoming round of the Torneo Clausura playoffs. Speaking after the final whistle at the 15 de Abril stadium, the manager offered a candid assessment of a match completely derailed by an early red card.
The defining moment arrived just five minutes into the contest when young defender Thiago Silvero received a straight red card following a penalty box incident. According to the tactical analysis provided by the coaching staff, that lone early setback rendered all prior week-long preparation useless.
Addressing reporters, Barros Schelotto maintained that the scoreline itself was secondary to the sheer disadvantage of playing with a numerical disadvantage for roughly 85 minutes. “The match we planned during the entire week was completely different after five minutes with a player less, not because of the goal against—which can happen—but because it is a very big advantage,” the coach explained. He added that while the squad fought hard under the circumstances, the expulsion effectively ruined any realistic pathway toward securing a victory that might have preserved distant aspirations for the Copa Libertadores depending on external results.
Tactical Choices and the Cost of Chasing a Win
Facing persistent questions from journalists about why he chose to maintain a three-man defensive structure long after going down to 10 men—delaying the introduction of debutant Leo Cristaldo until after Cristian Tarragona netted Unión’s second goal—the manager defended his aggressive strategy. He emphasized that settling for a draw served no purpose given the team’s standing.
“We had to win, not draw; we needed a triumph, and taking a player off in attack might have given us some defensive solution, but we had to turn the result around,” Barros Schelotto noted. He elaborated that from the perspective of their broader tournament positioning, “drawing or losing for us was the same” regarding ultimate qualification goals tied to outcomes elsewhere in the league.
It was only after the second goal conceded—when Unión exploited an extra body inside the penalty area—that the bench opted to bolster the defensive line while hunting for opportunities through counterattacks, set pieces, or individual brilliance. Beyond the tactical adjustments, the club managed to get through the afternoon without major injury disasters, though the coach noted that Lucas Robertone wrapped up the final play with a minor knock to either his ankle or heel, expressing hope that it would prove insignificant.
Manager Reflects on Past Postseason Shortcomings Ahead of Knockout Stage
With the regular season now officially in the rearview mirror, attention turns immediately toward the knockout stages. The squad awaits the final determination of their seedings and upcoming opponent, with potential scenarios ranging from a fifth-place finish to a high-stakes clash against River Plate.
Reflecting on previous postseason shortcomings, the manager stressed the importance of absorbing hard lessons from past elimination matches. “We have had the last two experiences of playing at home and losing right away in the first instance,” he recalled, voicing optimism that the setback had served as an educational turning point. With the definitive playoff bracket still taking shape based on concurrent fixtures across the division, El Fortín aims to channel its remaining focus toward a deep run.
