'Responsibility lies with my decisions': Pablo 'Vitamina' Sánchez's self-criticism

Olimpia's coach, Pablo 'Vitamina' Sánchez, has openly accepted blame for the team's resounding elimination from the Copa Sudamericana at the hands of Vasco da Gama. Following the final whistle, the Argentine strategist did not shy away from his role in the continental tournament's downfall.

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The responsibility of the coach has to do, obviously, with the choice of players and the game system. After that, one can analyze how the two 90-minute matches unfolded.

When questioned about aspects he could have managed differently, Sánchez was unequivocal. "The coach's responsibility has to do, obviously, with the choice of players and the game system," he stated. He further elaborated that while players make decisions on the field, the overall tactical and strategic approach rests with him.

Reflecting on the matches, Sánchez admitted that while the team defended well in Brazil, they failed to create sufficient scoring opportunities. The plan was to adjust and generate more offense in the home leg, but the outcome was a significant defeat. "There is a set of things that clearly did not work," he conceded.

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In the match in Brazil, I understand that we defended well, we really defended well, but we did not create goal situations. We got a good result to come play the return leg, because we understood that here we would change the chip a bit to generate more, keeping in mind that we had to maintain certain precautions.

This significant loss in the round of 16 has prompted a period of intense self-reflection for Sánchez. He recognized that the heavy scoreline necessitates a thorough review of his tactical and strategic management, emphasizing that the responsibility for the team's performance ultimately lies with his decisions.

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Self-criticism always appears when there is a defeat, and more so when there is a heavy defeat like this in such an important stage as the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana. I understand that the responsibility lies with my decisions, both in terms of game scheme, system, strategy, and substitutions. That is to say, there is a set of things that clearly did not work, among some decisions that players may make on the field and the decisions that the coach makes when addressing all these things I mentioned.