Elche CF’s temporary technician, Alberto Gallego, commented after the 1-1 draw with Mallorca that the work in progress would stay in play. He acknowledged the team’s resilience in facing a challenging sequence and noted that everyone pushed through pain during the encounter, keeping faith in a better outcome in the minutes ahead.
The Catalan coach focused on the merit of his players and preferred not to dwell on refereeing decisions or VAR. He pointed to a series of small games within the match that put his squad at a disadvantage. Yet his tone carried a steady confidence, underscoring the group’s capacity to respond even when the odds seemed stacked against them.
Gallego reflected on the team’s moment of adversity: it felt as if Elche had been “dead,” only to find a way to recover and believe they could influence the result on their own turf. He lamented the dismissal of Lucas Boyé, a turning point that coincided with the team regaining momentum, but he remained focused on the future and the remaining routes to success.
From his vantage point, Gallego asserted that Elche deserved to win the match. He noted that two points disappeared along the way but expressed satisfaction with the collective performance. He maintained a positive outlook about the team’s prospects and avoided making predictions about his own long-term role in the first team, emphasizing commitment to the present work and improvement.
When asked whether he envisioned remaining with the club, Gallego replied that there would be training the next day and that his fitness and qualification to remain involved were evident in his daily actions. His response highlighted a focus on ongoing preparation and the duty to contribute to the club’s path to salvation, rather than speculation about the future.
On Mallorca’s bench, coach Javier Aguirre offered a candid assessment of the game. He remarked that the team would face trouble if it did not seize scoring opportunities, acknowledging the risk of suffering later in the competition if such chances were wasted. His analysis stressed the need for sharper finishing and a more consistent conversion of chances as the season progresses.
The Mexican coach praised Vedat Muriqi for a telling performance, noting that he struck early, a penalty was missed, another goal followed, and a dismissal occurred afterward. He added a lighthearted touch, suggesting that if VAR had recommended expelling the player, the decision had been made decisively in the moment. His tone conveyed both admiration and a practical view of the events on the field.
Aguirre stressed that his concern now centered on rallying the players rather than contemplating potential sanctions against the striker. He underscored the squad’s depth, emphasizing that a group of 25 players forms a single unit where no one player weighs more than the other. He also acknowledged the weather and the delayed start but framed the match as a contest where external factors were part of the broader experience of the game.
In summarizing the day’s events, Aguirre recognized the various occurrences that affected both teams and praised Elche for their commendable performance under difficult conditions. He commented that the field did not appear flooded, a point he attributed to the resolve and effort from Elche throughout the match. The overall sentiment from the Mallorca camp pointed to a game defined by contested moments and the persistent push to capitalize on opportunities when they arose, a recurring theme in this stage of the season. [Citation: Mallorca and Elche post-match remarks]