After a 28-match battle, Nacional celebrated its 17th title in the Colombian League and ended a 5-year losing streak without lifting that cup.
Although several factors came together to round off the campaign that ended this Sunday in Ibagué, in front of Tolima, the key to success was in the technical direction that he led Hernan Dario Herrera, who assumed the position as interim on March 1 of this year after the termination of the contract of Alexander Restrepo.
Atlético Nacional had played 9 league games and although it appeared in the third box, the atmosphere became complex because the team was practically eliminated from the Copa Libertadores, in the second round. It lost 3-1 in Asuncion to Olimpia of Paraguayand and had to go back in el Athanasius, a result that he could not achieve under the command of Herrera, since the 1-1 was not enough for him to advance.
Once again, Verde was left out of the international tournament that he won with Reinaldo Rueda in 2016. The attempts were unsuccessful, despite hiring elite coaches such as Juan Manuel Lillo (Spanish), Jorge Almiron (Argentine), Paulo Autuori (Brazilian), Juan Carlos Osorio (Colombian) and Alexander Guimaraes (Brazilian).
In the League, the title was not won again since 2017-1 (with Rueda) and the only consolation was the Colombian cups of 2018 with Herrera and 2021 with Restrepo.
The leadership, which already felt the discomfort of the fans due to the poor results, once again used the “Arriero”, more out of necessity than conviction.
The 64-year-old man from Antioquia wisely managed to straighten the path and allowed the purslane fanatics to celebrate again.
Here, the strategies and moments that allowed the achievement that today has the fans smiling, whose approach to the group that the coach led was definitive, a task in which Sebastián Gómez shone.
Analysis of rivals and goal actions
It is clear that on this occasion Herrera made a more judicious analysis of the opponents, especially in the semifinals. That allowed him to start strong when he tied with Junior 1-1 in the demanding Barranquilla arena and then finished him off at the Atanasio in the middle of a deluge. They tied Millonarios, who had a trial with Alberto Gamero and was a candidate to reach the final, 2-2 at Atanasio and 0-0 at El Campín, and eliminated him. With Bucaramanga he had no trouble and beat him at home (4-1) and away (0-1). The preparation of the matches, in actions that ended in goals like those of Candelo and Jarlan Barrera in the final.
The task force grew strong
Herrera made Francisco Maturana and Carlos Piscis Restrepo, who were part of the previous coaching staff, feel useful and important. He kept Carlos Tabares as physical trainer and Milton Patiño as goalkeeper trainer. He invited several idols to practices such as René Higuita, Gastón Pezzuti, Yimmy Arango, Víctor Aristizábal and teacher Luis Fernando Montoya, the Champion of Life. And he maintained his trust in the medical staff with Nelson Rodríguez and Hernán Luna. He brought the motivator Luis Alfonso Sosa and listened to advice from fellow friends and acquaintances such as Pedro Sarmiento.
Empowered the youngsters in the squad
For his work for so many years in the minor divisions, he was able to capitalize on the talent of Kevin Mier, Juan David Cabal and Nelson Palacios, who gave an important hand. In addition, she rescued from oblivion Yeison Guzmán, Danovis Banguero and John Duque, among others.
Versatile football according to the need
Atlético Nacional, under the command of Herrera, is versatile in its football. He is practical and adapts to the needs: he plays well when the rivals and the circumstances allow him to, but when he has to win, as the coach assured before the finals, that is not the priority. He knew that the club urgently needed a title and so he worked for it. Many times he had to come from behind in decisive games, like against Tolima, and he knew how to do it with personality. He always kept his composure.
Goals and decisive wins
Beating DIM 2-0 in the regional classic restored the team’s confidence after being eliminated in the Copa Libertadores. The 2-0 win over América on the 15th, and the 4-1 against Bucaramanga in the semi-final home runs with which they ended the drought of seven games without winning, also fueled the champion’s motivation. And not to mention the goals of Giovanni Moreno in Barranquilla for the 1-1 tie at 60 minutes, and that of Yerson Candelo for the partial 2-1 in the first leg of the final at Atanasio Girardot, from 58, 2 meters away, both will remain in the memory of the fans.
