There is nothing wrong with changing your mind. In fact, when the evidence keeps staring you in the face, changing your mind is usually the only sensible thing to do. That is the position Lucas González appears to be in ahead of Sunday’s 2:00 p. m. meeting with Fortaleza at El Campín: four official matches, several friendly matches, and enough information to suggest Atlético Nacional’s XI for Sunday should not be treated like a fixed object.
The clearest message is simple enough. After reviewing the level of the players he has used since his arrival, there are 11 who have shown a better performance and, by that logic, should be the starters against Fortaleza. That is not a radical idea. It is basic football management. If the available evidence points to a stronger group, then the coach should stop pretending that reputation or habit deserves a place in the XI.
The real problem is up front
Of course, the headline decision is not merely about trimming the squad down to the most reliable names. The unresolved issue sits in the attack, where the choice between Chicho Arango and Alfredo Morelos remains the major doubt. That is the kind of decision that can define a game before it begins, because the centre forward spot is not where a team wants to be improvising if it is trying to build rhythm and control.
That uncertainty matters even more because Atlético Nacional have already had enough time to form an opinion. Since Lucas González arrived, there have been four official matches and several friendly matches to assess patterns, combinations and individual levels. At this point, the coaching staff should not still be guessing what works. The team needs clarity, and Sunday is the right moment to show it.
There is also a broader point here that fans tend to understand very quickly, even if coaches sometimes resist it. A starting lineup should reward what has actually been shown on the pitch, not what sounds best on paper. If 11 players have separated themselves from the rest through performance, then the answer is staring Lucas González in the face. The only remaining question is whether he is prepared to act on it.
Fortaleza will not care about internal debates, of course. They will care about whether Atlético Nacional arrive with pace, balance and a forward line that can settle the argument quickly. If the coach gets the XI right, the conversation will feel sharp and decisive. If he does not, the talk will only get louder. And right now, with the attack still unresolved, that is exactly the sort of pressure Atlético Nacional have invited onto themselves.
