coach Elche CF, Sebastian Beccacece He was content with the draw because nothing else would have felt right after the course of the match, following Valladolid’s goal and Mario Gaspar’s expulsion. The opening minutes set the tone for a tense clash on the road, where Elche faced a setback and had to adapt quickly to the numerical disadvantage.
“We came with the intent to win, and the first 30 minutes underscored that ambition”, Beccacece observed after the lapse of a few minutes. The squad had opportunities to climb the ranking, with Nico Castro registering two chances that could have shifted the momentum. Yet an injury to Borja Garcés disrupted their planned approach, and Valladolid capitalized on a set piece to take the lead. From there, Elche struggled to sustain the same level of intensity in the closing portion of the first half, as the clock kept ticking and the team navigated a difficult moment with ten players on the field. The coach highlighted the team’s willingness to sacrifice, noting that the game demanded resilience in the face of adversity.
Sergio León saved Elche in Valladolid (1-1)
JA Galvan
Beccacece, reflecting on the red card incident, described it as a harsh moment that cut into the game’s rhythm and insisted that a decision like that cannot become recurrent. He praised Mario Gaspar as a commendable person and professional, but stressed that such mistakes must be avoided just as Elche could not afford to open the scoring from a set piece. The coach lamented the chain of misfortunes that followed and reaffirmed that the team needed to protect its game plan even when disparities appeared on the pitch.
Beccacece greeted Valladolid coach Paulo Pezzolano before the match, and the teams exchanged a moment of mutual respect ahead of kick-off. The match also featured a quick recovery by Elche after the sending off, as both sides pressed to adjust their strategies and maintain balance. The coach pointed out that the team had the chance to draw level soon after the red card and that both sides fought hard. The players demonstrated perseverance and a willingness to endure the match’s tempo as the minutes stacked up.
Beccacece praised the squad for the equality of effort: after the sending off, Elche managed to resume play with determination, and the team slowly grew into the game despite the numerical disadvantage. The coach emphasized that perseverance and collective responsibility mattered, and that the side showed character in a challenging period. The overall performance was assessed with a belief that there was more to come once the team settled into its rhythm and took advantage of the opportunities available.
Finally, the Franjiverde coach celebrated Sergio León’s strike as a meaningful moment for both the player and the group. The goal represented a turning point, offering morale and momentum at a critical stage of the season. It was acknowledged as a positive development for the squad, signaling that scoring from open play and maintaining focus can pay dividends, even in difficult circumstances.