The penalty action
“The takeaway is that we leave very hurt because of that play at the end. I guess that’s part of football. I was nearby, and it seemed like one of the two hundred similar actions that happen in a football match. In that moment, the game slipped away from us. Those final minutes are taking their toll. We are working so that this doesn’t happen, and today it came in a very cruel way, with a referee’s mistake, I believe.”
Frustrated with the draw
“We are in a moment of transition, with this new way of playing. We’re trying to build from the back more cleanly. I understand the murmurs, I’m a fan too, and maybe today we lacked a bit of spark at certain moments. But people have to understand the need for points. It frustrates me because of how the match ended. The win would have been a very positive boost for the team.”
Disagreement with the referee
“I really like this referee, but in my view, he made a mistake. He told me he was focused on Recio, that there was contact, and that he had to call it. To me, it seemed very minor. It’s an action that affects everything for us. I don’t want to say more, but we leave here frustrated.”
100 matches
“I’m very happy to have reached 100 matches with Málaga; it’s the club of my life. Since I arrived, I’ve always tried to give my best. This year I haven’t been able to perform at the level of previous seasons, I know I can give more, and I’m working on it. I’m more than motivated to keep adding minutes in this shirt, very happy, and grateful to everyone who has made it possible for me to reach 100 matches today. My commitment and work will always be there.”
A united, committed group
“I see the dressing room confident. These are difficult moments. We are aware that those minutes are costing us a lot, and these are mistakes we shouldn’t make. We work to prevent them. I always say this: if something has characterised this team since I’ve been here, it’s that the players have given everything with a very healthy attitude and commitment. We are giving it our all.”
Self-criticism and hard work
“The league is very tight. The standings reflect that. It’s very frustrating today, because we could have reached 22 points and gained a bit more advantage, getting closer to where we want to be. Every match is a world of its own, and the message is that each game is decided by small details. Self-criticism and moving forward, focusing on the next match.”
