José Alberto is left without a test bench for less common players. Málaga, one more year, leaves the Cup in a bad way. “We have missed a very good opportunity for the players who have fewer minutes to have competition rhythm and can show me that I am wrong,” he said. As for the game, he regretted the lack of punch once more from his team.
Assessment of the meeting: “Congratulate Rayo Majadahonda for the tie, for the move to the next round. I have seen a very even game at all times. There have been alternatives in the first part in terms of play initiative. Matched matches like this are decided by a detail and it has been a detail of a set piece. This is how the goal came to us. We have had the game controlled and we have had four or five situations to have succeeded. The precision of the last third, the last pass and the definition is what is penalizing us all year. That is what marks the match and the tie ”.
Changes: “They were programmed changes. We have eight casualties and we have a game on Saturday that is very important for us. The Cup was also very important to keep the entire squad alive. Having two competitions gives you the possibility to rotate and for everyone to have competition rhythm. That opportunity we have missed today, that is the reality. We have to think about the eleven for Saturday, we were looking for football with Dani Lorenzo and with Hicham we were looking for speed, overflow and imbalance ”.
What have you missed to pass ?: “We have lacked forcefulness in the areas. It is what determines football, the forcefulness in the areas. It was an even game, in which there have been many moments for each team. From 65 ‘forward we have tilted the field towards Álvaro’s goal. We have lacked success to equalize. Now we have to think about recovering and about Saturday’s game, which for us is the most important thing ”.
Message to the staff: “When going out, in hot, you have to talk little. You have to speak on the pitch, which is where the players have to speak. From there, when we see the match repeated we will analyze the performance of each one and make the decisions that we have to make. The team has had an attitude and has wanted to go for the game at all times. We lacked rhythm, last pass and maybe some football. We have eight casualties and almost all of them in the center of the field, from players who have soccer. That facet costs us. We have found ourselves in front of a team that has closed well, they have had a lot of discretion when playing. Rayo Majadahonda is a very good team ”.
Can this defeat affect the League ?: “It is another competition. On Saturday we play at home with our people and if we win the victory we will go with 30 points, playoff numbers. We have to think about recovering from today’s effort and achieving a victory on Saturday ”.
Lost occasion: “We have missed an opportunity and I leave with that feeling. An opportunity for the players who have less minutes to have competition rhythm and can prove me wrong. The way to claim is on the field of play. We have missed a very good opportunity ”.
Is a Cup match different against a lower category rival ?: “The game is planned in the same way as against any other team. Looking for the strengths and weaknesses of the rival. We put the same hours of preparation, the same hours of video … In Copa del Rey there are no categories. They are all in the same hype and anyone can beat anyone. The differences in soccer are less than what people may believe ”.
Bad results away from home: “We want to be regular and always compete. It is difficult to find an explanation for what happens to us outside the home. We come from playing a great game in Eibar. We have to spin very fine because we are very close to people. We came here with all the intention to get through the tie, but looking askance at Saturday’s game. We cannot take more casualties. Getting a victory on Saturday is what we all want ”.