Elche’s head coach Francisco Rodríguez left the interview room looking weary after the loss to Rayo Vallecano. He acknowledged the harsh truth in plain terms: one point from twenty-one available cannot be defended. Yet there was a stubborn glint in his eyes, a sign that he believes his players still have the capacity to respond. He spoke of the belief within the squad and the strength of the group, insisting that as long as the players stay united behind him, Elche will keep pushing from the bench and keep faith with the plan they have laid out together.
Elche had taken the lead in the first half thanks to a goal from Argentina’s Lucas Boyé. It was a moment of relief that suggested a different narrative might unfold, yet the visitors found an equalizer just before the break when Sergio Camello struck. The match remained tight thereafter, and it was not until the dying minutes of extra time that Unai López completed the comeback for Rayo, sealing a result that left Elche’s outlook particularly bleak.
After seven rounds, Elche sat at the bottom of the table, one point adrift of safety. It remained the only team in the division yet to record a win, a fact that weighed heavily on the minds of players, staff, and supporters alike.
The coach reflected on the broader pattern: football, he said, has a way of delivering hard lessons. He recalled moments in which Tete Morente had delivered effort and intent, arguing that the team had fought to the end and believed in the approach they had chosen. It felt anticlimactic, though, as a single point from a match against a difficult opponent was not enough to convince the club’s faithful that progress was being made.
Elche’s boss admitted frustration: the two weeks of preparation had yielded encouraging signs, yet the numbers on the board did not reflect that work. He conceded that sustaining twenty-one points is not realistic in the current climate and that the number plays a key role in how the club is perceived by its people. Still, he maintained hope that the team would keep its focus and keep working toward improvement, even as the bench’s stability hung in the balance for the next game.
He stressed a shared belief that the club, its ownership, the players, and the technical staff were aligned. Whatever the outcome, the aim would be Elche’s welfare and the pursuit of a path that could offer options in the near future. The manager repeated his commitment to the team and the responsibilities he carries, insisting that his own career was a steady thread through a period of upheaval and challenge. He spoke of a desire to continue guiding the group and to maintain a rhythm that suits the collective mission, even when circumstances feel unsettled.
The coach also addressed the emotional side of the situation. He said he could sense the players’ trust in him and their readiness to back his decisions. The squad had shown courage, and there was a shared belief that a strong start to the campaign might have altered the course of events. He did not shy from acknowledging a difficult calendar and the harsh reality of results that have not yet come. Yet he remained confident that, with belief from the players and support from the club, the team could stay the course and find a way to climb out of trouble.
In discussing the broader picture, the manager noted that convincing supporters of the team’s recent efforts could be challenging when outcomes do not reflect the intentions on the training ground. He affirmed that the team had pushed to the limit and had been denied by a late score, a reminder that football often hinges on small margins. He pointed to the need for an early and sustained build from the ground up, recognizing that progress would emerge through consistent work and a clear, shared vision rather than quick fixes.
Overall, the tone from Elche’s technical leadership remained one of resolve rather than surrender. They acknowledged the severity of their current position while reaffirming a belief in the project they are pursuing. The coach indicated openness to evaluating all aspects of the club’s structure and future plans, with the understanding that decisions would reflect long-term well-being rather than short-term expediency. He reiterated that there would be no retreat from a principled approach: if the players commit and the club stays united, there will be opportunities to alter the trajectory and restore a sense of confidence around Elche’s project.