Arturo Vidal offered no excuses after Coquimbo Unido handed Colo Colo a 5-2 thrashing this Sunday at Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso stadium. In the mixed zone, the midfielder acknowledged that the team lacked focus from the first minute and congratulated the opposition.
As reported by BioBioChile, Vidal explained that the Pirates' early goal disrupted Colo Colo's entire game plan. "We were very unfocused; we conceded a goal right at the start of the match, so that made things difficult for us," he admitted. He added that they tried to stay calm and keep possession but were unable to do so.
The Colo Colo captain, who scored one of the team's consolation goals, as TNT Sports Chile highlighted on X, praised Coquimbo's performance. In his view, the northern side took its chances and played a more disorderly game that made Colo Colo uncomfortable. "They are always difficult to play against," he said.
The defeat ended Colo Colo's six-month unbeaten run, with the team still leading on 54 points. Universidad de Chile and Universidad Católica have 42 and can narrow the gap to nine points, with six rounds remaining. Colo Colo have gone three matches without a win.
Vidal pointed to interruptions in the schedule as a factor in the drop in performance. "We've had something like four preseasons; we've lost our rhythm a little," he said, mentioning that several teammates had only just returned from national team duty. "I think this only happens here in Chile," he said, expressing hope that next year would be different. BioBioChile transcribed "seasons" and ADN Radio, "preseasons."
On his future at the Monumental, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich player told ADN Radio that the club had yet to approach him and there had been no progress. He said the matter was not on his mind and would be reviewed at the end of the year. "It's Colo-Colo, so how could I not want to stay?" he asked.
His final message was for the fans. "There are six matches left to win the 35th title, and we cannot lose focus," Vidal concluded. Speaking to ADN Radio, he was more emphatic: "The 35th title is not going to slip away from us."
