Diego Martínez: “In all the pools in Europe we were eliminated”

Eternal pride to pass this tie despite the injuries of Machís, Gonalons, Neva and Germán. “The first thing is that it is something historical. It is a feat what this team has done. For all the people of Granada, exploring paths that they have never explored before in 90 years of history, with all the circumstances that we have gone through, what they do is magnify and give more value to what this team has done. Before playing the first game, after the draw came out, in all the pools in Europe we were eliminated. The team had a great first leg. The team made a great first half from minute 10 despite having conceded the goal in minute two, despite having lost very important players along the way, once again it is shown that the team with capital letters is the strength of this Granada. Whoever enters gives the most. The survival exercise has been brutal. In this scenario, showing our values ​​to this great team that is Naples makes not only any Granada player, but any football fan proud ”.

Match rating. “It is true that we arrived in an extreme situation squared. From the warm-up we lost one of our main offensive tricks, such as Darwin Machís and during the game Max Gonalons, Neva, Germán, Montoro himself … the players who entered from the bench, Vallejo, Yangel, Roberto Soldado, who in normal conditions did not They should have played, risked and done everything they had inside. That speaks to this team's values ​​and mindset. At the level of the game, at minute two you fit, another slab more, but the team has never fallen. And if you don't fall you don't need to get up. What the team has done is to keep fighting. He has remained convinced of the game plan. We had a very good half hour, 35 minutes of the first part. That was the match we wanted. Later, with the changes and casualties, it was very difficult to continue that game. The second part was an exercise in competitiveness, survival and showing a soul that one as a coach, regardless of the result, when one sees that the team leaves its soul, one cannot ask for more. This is a knockout pass thank you all. Those who have played and those who have not. This shows the soul of this team in capital letters that I think is unique “.

Physical appearance. “We reached the limit and the limit has been squared. We lost one of our main offensive tricks in the warm-up to Darwin. During the game Gonalons, Germán, Neva, even Montoro. And those who came from the bench should not have played under normal conditions, but they have risked giving everything they had inside. That speaks to the mentality and values ​​of the team ”.

Stand up to adversity. “You fit in in minute 2 and it turns out to be one more slab. But the team has never crashed and that's why it hasn't had to get up. He has kept fighting. We had 30 very good minutes, in the game we wanted. Then with the casualties it was very difficult to maintain that. In the second half there has been a spirit of survival and bestial fighting. One as a coach cannot ask for more when he sees that his team leaves its soul. I have to thank everyone, those who have played and those who have not. They have a soul and a spirit that is unique. I am lucky to have players who are essential, because they are always there when they are needed for whatever it is. I have put Antonio (Puertas) into many 'balls' since Second: playing for both bands, on the inside, as a forward, as a second striker, as a side … If we are here for example it is thanks to his great game in Malmoe . It is a pride as a coach to be able to direct him ”.

What did you say to your players at halftime? “Only that we were proud to live that situation with them, because together we were going to get it out and I was going to give much more value to what has finally been achieved.”