It is rehearsal time for the Colombian National Team and coach Néstor Lorenzo surprised by changing the tactical module for the duel against Paraguay. He played with a three-back line, something he had only done occasionally in a couple of games.
Lorenzo defended, in the press conference after the game, and after the 1-0 defeat, the decision he made.
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Lorenzo’s explanation of the module change
“We had been wanting to try the other system for a while. We had always started with a line of four, except in Ecuador, in a qualifying match, when we played with a line of three. That day John Arias played as a winger on the right. We saw the opportunity because both the full-backs we have and the center backs are used to playing with that system.”
Colombia vs Paraguay Photo:EFE/ Ángel Colmenares
Regarding the functioning of the defense, the coach said: “It was difficult for us to get the start right, we allowed ourselves to be pressured, we made many mistakes in that aspect. We played against a team that has just played in a World Cup, very oiled, very hard-working and that made it difficult for us.”
Lorenzo knows that he still has many things to correct and to try thinking about the two challenges that are coming, the qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup and the next Copa América. “We are under construction, we will draw conclusions as time goes by, but I think there are good things to highlight, beyond the fact that I recognize that the team did not play well.”
Colombia vs. Paraguay Photo:EFE
Lorenzo’s big concern: Colombia does not generate scoring options
The coach also stressed his concern about the team’s low offensive volume. “During the World Cup we generated a lot and we didn’t achieve anything. Now we are not generating as much as in the World Cup,” he said.
“The protagonists have changed in terms of the construction of the game and the elaboration of goal-scoring plays. If you look closely, we reached situations where what was needed was a good pass and we failed there. There are times when we had very simple mistakes, very childish I would say, on the last play. I think we are looking for the protagonists who make the best decisions and trying to give them the necessary tools to complete goal-scoring plays. Really, we did not reach the extent of what the team intended,” he insisted.
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