In a moment heavy with emotion, the Elche CF coach faced a grueling press conference after a 1-4 defeat to Athletic Bilbao. He acknowledged that finding a lasting solution will demand sustained effort and time, yet he vowed to rise again tomorrow, ready to confront today’s challenges with renewed resolve. He emphasized the plan to mobilize every resource at his disposal, aiming to reverse the difficult spell that has enveloped the club and its supporters alike.
The Almería coach offered a parallel reflection, admitting that mistakes had proved costly and that the team had paid a high price for them. He described the squad as emotionally spent and stressed the necessity of maintaining composure under pressure to move through the rough period with steadiness and purpose.
Looking back on the night, he noted that initial optimism about a positive turn of fortune the following day dissipated as soon as play began. The coach admitted he could not pinpoint a clear, immediate fix during the match, especially in the first half, and signaled a willingness to reassess his approach in the days ahead to prevent a repeat of the same issues.
He explained that at halftime he urged the players to defend the club’s identity with pride, seeking at least a modest improvement in the second half. The relationship with owner Christian Bragarnik remained constructive, and while he attempted to rearrange personnel to spark better performances, no breakthrough materialized on the night. The coach spoke of fatigue but reaffirmed the commitment to rebound, drawing on experiences from past seasons where the team endured similar stretches before eventually stabilizing.
The team’s second captain spoke openly about the match, calling it among the toughest games of his career. He described the first-half intensity and acknowledged that the fans’ reactions weighed heavily on the players. He suggested that given another chance, he would consider a different lineup, highlighting the difficult tactical choices that arise in a high-stakes contest.
In the second half, emphasis shifted toward restoring balance and honoring the team’s shirt with the seriousness it deserves. The players accepted that the responsibility for the performance rested with them collectively, not solely on the coach. They praised the head coach for two memorable speeches — one before kickoff and another at halftime — that stirred a renewed commitment within the group. The captain reiterated that the problem was not the fault of any single individual but a collective challenge that required cohesion, hard work, and a focused reorientation toward the task at hand. He also apologized to the fans, signaling a vow to work harder and let actions speak louder than words.