"Expectations are the best": Ariel Broggi took over and is already thinking about his debut with Gimnasia.

In a week of unexpected moves, Gimnasia y Esgrima de Mendoza officially announced this Thursday the arrival of Ariel Broggi as the new head coach of the first team, following the surprising departure of Ezequiel Medrán, who was fired by the club's management.

Broggi, 43, has already had his first meeting with the squad and led his first training session at the Víctor Legrotaglie stadium . He takes over at a crucial time: the team sits third in Zone B of the Primera Nacional , just three points behind leader Gimnasia de Jujuy, with a game in hand . His debut will be this Sunday away to Colón de Santa Fe , on matchday 24 of the tournament at 3:40 p.m.

“Obviously, expectations are high. It's a process where things are going well. The reality is that everyone comes with their own ideas, their own style. Little by little, we're going to try to show those things and adapt to the group. We've just arrived, there's a team in place, and we're the ones who have to adapt today,” Broggi said in his first words as Lobo's manager.

Ariel Esteban Broggi is a former left-back who emerged from Vélez Sarsfield, with spells at Banfield , Quilmes and international experience in Turkey . As a coach, he had a brief stint as head coach at Banfield in the Liga Profesional (2023), where he led 16 matches with a record of 3 wins, 5 draws and 8 losses.

However, he gained his greatest technical experience as an assistant to Eduardo "Chacho" Coudet , working with him at top-flight clubs such as Racing Club , Internacional de Porto Alegre , Celta de Vigo , and Atlético Mineiro . This international experience is precisely one of the factors valued by the Lobo management in their bid to replace Ezequiel Medrán.

Broggi arrives on a one-year contract and will be accompanied by Cristian Bardaro and Walter Grazziosi as assistant coaches, and Emanuel Lillini as fitness coach.

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Medrán 's departure left a certain amount of secrecy in the Parque , but the management acted quickly to secure Broggi's signing. The chosen profile was clear: a young coach with high-level experience and modern ideas, capable of putting his own tactical stamp on the team.

Regarding the current team, the new coach was clear: " I don't think it's time to change; there isn't time. Besides, there are many things that have been done well. After that, each coach adapts and finds his own methods and ideas based on his knowledge of the group. We will change or strengthen what has been done well."

When asked about the team's position in the table, he acknowledged: "Yes, we're three points behind the leader and have played a game less," referring to the good form Lobo is enjoying, still in the race for promotion.

With his first match this weekend against Colón, Broggi will look to get off to a good start and quickly establish himself at a club that still dreams of winning the top flight. “ We have a tough match on Sunday. We have to go win against Santa Fe . Winning always makes everything better. Without a doubt, the way we do things is also important. Our job is to win, which often blinds you to certain things, but I'm a person who believes and focuses a lot on the methods to achieve victory,” concluded the new Mensa coach.