He directs with a commanding voice, always radiating the intensity and passion he feels for the game. A fiercely competitive spirit, as he himself has described it, contrasts with his calm demeanor off the pitch.
On Tuesday morning, Independiente Medellín assistant coach Giuliano Tiberti arrived at the team’s training facility in Itagüí on an N-Max scooter, riding slowly as if navigating the streets of his native Italy rather than the congested roads of the Aburrá Valley. The morning rush hour was already nearing its peak.
Tiberti, wearing a modular helmet – the kind with a lift-up visor – greeted the security guard with a slight nod before entering the facility. Most of the players were already in the team restaurant, preparing for breakfast.
Didier Moreno arrived shortly after. The players went through their usual routine. Despite the looming importance of their upcoming match, a sense of calm prevailed within the team.
¿Cuáles son los futbolistas del Medellín que podrían regresar de sus lesiones?
More than two hours passed between the players’ arrival and their session on the training pitch, which mirrors the dimensions and turf of the city’s stadium. During that time, head coach Alejandro Restrepo addressed the media.
He assured reporters that the squad was composed, not overconfident, but confident in the work they’ve put in since returning from their first leg match in Uruguay. A break from league play this past weekend proved beneficial, giving the team valuable time to refine details – something they hadn’t been able to do consistently since the season began in January. Medellín will face Juventud de Piedra of Uruguay on Thursday at the Atanasio Girardot stadium (7:30 p.m.) in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores third qualifying round.
In the 46 days between January 18th – the start of the league season – and March 5th, when they played their third qualifying match for “La Gloria Eterna,” Medellín has played 12 games, the most of any Colombian team alongside Deportes Tolima, who are similarly vying for a spot in the continental tournament group stage.
Medellín has also been hampered by a string of injuries to key players: Daniel Londoño, Léider Berrío, Yonny González, Daniel Cataño, Baldomero Perlaza, Jhon Edwin Montaño and Léyser Chaverra, many of whom are regulars in Restrepo’s starting lineup. Berrío and Chaverra have suffered the most serious injuries: Berrío tore his knee ligaments, while Chaverra sustained a knee trauma with a tibia fracture. Berrío is expected to be sidelined for around six months, while Chaverra’s recovery is estimated at two months.
Restrepo added that Baldomero Perlaza’s availability will be assessed right up until kickoff. Both Perlaza and Montaño participated in Tuesday’s training session, with Perlaza partnering Francisco Chaverra in the early drills and Montaño working with a youth player.
Frank Fabra, a key figure for the team, was also seen working with Didier Moreno, who often captains El Poderoso. The pair later joined groups of younger players, offering guidance and instruction under the midday sun in Itagüí. Daniel Cataño, one of the club’s high-profile signings for the first half of the year, is expected to complete his recovery next week and be available to play before the end of March.
After practice, the players participated in the “purple ball” campaign, an initiative by the football authorities for Women’s History Month. Tiberti, the assistant coach, then departed on his scooter, seemingly transported back to Italy as he headed home.
