MADRID, 28 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of Real Sociedad, Imanol Alguacil, stated this Wednesday – early in the morning – that “due to occasions” generated in front of goal his pupils had been “far above” RCD Mallorca in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. but reiterating that “you have to get it right” to reach the final of any elite championship.
“There is no doubt, you have to be self-critical if you have been able to be better in the two games or to generate more scoring opportunities than the rival. If we want to be up there, this is what has also happened to us in recent years” Alguacil said at a press conference from the Reale Arena.
“When you are better than your rival, you have to get it right to win the games. And that is what we had done so far in all the Cup ties we had played. And in this one, which has been back and forth, I think sometimes We have been far above them, but we have to get it right,” insisted the ‘txuri-urdin’ coach.
In addition, he described the atmosphere in his locker room after losing in the penalty shootout (4-5). “Destroyed because I think that, although we have played a final not long ago, what we wanted was to play another one with an audience. And also hurt because watching the tie, with all the opportunities we have had, even today when the game was against us With that goal, we had the ability to react and score the tie, we tried in every way possible,” he repeated.
“Obviously, if in the two games you forgive so many situations in front of the goal, it is difficult. Congratulate Mallorca and thank the players for their effort because it is now more than ever that I am proud of these players, of this squad. And also thank all the support from the public both at the time of the reception and at the time of the game because from minute one to the end, even after having eliminated us, they have stayed supporting us,” he added.
Despite the tough defeat at home, Alguacil pointed out that the unease “should not get worse because it is part of football and it is not easy to reach the semifinal as we have done.” “It is true that now we are annoyed and it is very difficult to digest not going to the final, but we are professionals and we have several objectives, one immediate which is the League and we want to re-enter Europe,” he warned.
“We have tremendous pain because what we wanted was to play the final with our fans, so that they could enjoy a final with us there in La Cartuja, but it couldn’t be,” he added before analyzing the network of the Balearic team in its defense.
“I had been warning about it. Because it is like that, Mallorca always complicates life for all the teams. I think that in the two games we have been closer to winning than to drawing or losing, but that is not worth it. That is why I have I have said that I have to thank the players because they have given everything to them, but we also have to criticize ourselves because if we have not reached the final it is because of everything we have forgiven, knowing that Mallorca is a complicated team and that once again he has done a great defensive job,” he argued.
“The approach did not surprise us at all. Although today they were a little more aggressive in the pressure, we knew it because they have usually done it not only against us, but also against other teams. It is true that in the first 10-15 minutes they also We have been a bit vague due to the good pressure they have been able to put in. We have not been very comfortable there, but then I think that the team once again has recovered a little from that beginning and has already known how to play the semifinal, which is not has been able to hit the target in front of the goal neither in the first leg nor in the return leg. And then in the penalty shootout it is the same, it is not about luck or lottery, at all; it is about shooting well, getting it right and there They have also been better than us,” Alguacil explained.
“Not reaching the final is not the reason for the penalty that Mikel missed [Oyarzabal], that is the least. We are all guilty here, and I am the first. In that sense Mikel is a very mature boy and I am convinced that, just as a few years ago he was the one who scored the goal to win the Cup, today he could not be and he will get up,” he finally predicted.
2024-02-28 00:30:02
#times #Mallorca
