Rafael Dudamel was the coach who was in charge of giving the greatest joy to the fans of the Atlético Bucaramanga after winning the Colombian League title against Independent Santa Fe in a vibrant definition. The Venezuelan coach won his second trophy in Colombia, after having done so with the Deportivo Cali in 2021.
In dialogue with The Caracol Extension, Dudamel, 51, valued the work done by his team, as well as referring, more calmly, to what the game left in El Campín. He stated that the club will know how to use the resources and, thinking about the Copa Libertadores 2025, They will not throw the house out the window and will invest in reinforcements, starting from a base that has already been formed.
Balance of the semester: “The very good thing I can conclude is that it has been worth the effort of an entire semester, of very correct planning in the formation of a team according to the possibilities. Meticulous, organized and responsible planning was done, knowing that we could not go into the market to compete with a checkbook and the choice of the players, which is the most important thing, that under the possibilities, you have to review the choice of each one in great depth. And not only were we right with very good footballers, but we were right with the quality of human beings, a very rich squad and, above all, with a great level of desire and success.”
Keys to maintaining serenity: “Be aware, when you as a coach and leader ask for calmness, focus, the first one who has to set an example is the coach. It is a place in which the local team was going to have the support of its fans and that was only going to be an added value and where it could be either being in advantage or being in adversity. We both lived and the team knew how to behave; a mature team that is assuming the different moments and from experience I know that with respect to my position on the line, so is my team. This group has made me mature a lot as a coach to maintain that balance.”
The choice for penalties: “There, the work of so many weeks, of an entire semester, of the internal competition before each game comes to light, because the selection of the kickers is our characteristic, that we always choose three kickers per game. The accumulation of work comes to light, Sambueza and Hinestroza were not there, but Henao and Mosquera were options to excel, but the opportunities are for everyone and that is when it was time to ask who I have, because the player is free. The majority were available to do it and the pile of work comes back and comes out to find out the faces and physical condition of who were the right ones, I chose the five and then I gave them the order from first to fifth and it took longer than expected, but The other great advantage is having Aldair Quintana in goal. He is a goalkeeper who wins matches and titles, he is a guarantee and transmits the tranquility of his condition.
The Santa Fe approach: “Soccer speaking, we were more poised as a team, we were more and everyone recognizes that, but there is no single way to reach the goal and the way Santa Fe did it is commendable, with character and pride and that cost us when We felt like we were left without legs. We must recognize the quality of the rival who was surpassed and we feel the respect of Santa Fe, we played and controlled the ball, but the ways of arriving are also commendable.”
Champion in two semesters: “Maybe I haven’t dimensioned it, I’ve started listening to it and they’ve made me understand that great detail. I am lucky to have achieved it, to have been at the right time, in the right place and then the work, the ability of the players, the ability to know my team and enhance them. It is a set of conditions that have to be met to be able to achieve it and I feel lucky.”
The celebration in Bucaramanga: “There was no way to control it because it was 75 years. It was the moment to enjoy it like this, with that city overflowing in a civic way, it was a moment of absolute happiness and it could not be controlled, but from now on we have to return, put our feet on the ground, plan what is coming, because When you get a taste for winning, the demand is none other than to win again. “Continue with the beautiful work of structuring a team, posing new challenges, we do not start from scratch neither with the people in the stands, nor in a team formation, if we continue in this line, we will be starring in the next championship”
Reinforcements thinking about Liberators: “We have shared ideas. With the income from the Copa Libertadores, the budget may increase a little, but we must not go out of our way, we must compete within the average of possibilities, it is a conversation that I must develop in depth with the owner, the president, knowing what they want and what they want to target to form the team.”
