Atlético Nacional Coach Expresses Concerns Over Squad Depth Following Copa BetPlay Semifinal Draw
After a 1-1 draw with Once Caldas in the first leg of the 2026 Copa BetPlay semifinals, Atlético Nacional head coach Lucas González shared his concerns regarding the limited options available within his squad.
Late Equalizer and Calls for More Squad Depth
The match, held at Estadio Palogrande, saw a late equalizer from Atlético Nacional in the 82nd minute, thanks to a brilliant goal from James Rodríguez, marking his first for the club. In the post-match press conference, González acknowledged the effort displayed by the team but highlighted the insufficient bench strength that hindered their ability to impact the game’s outcome.
Multiple Absences at a Crucial Stage
González elaborated on the challenges facing his team, noting that the call-ups for various Colombian national teams, combined with injuries to key players César Haydar and Néider Parra, resulted in the absence of eight first-team members. This situation significantly limited his options for rotation during this crucial phase of the tournament.
