Pellicer: “No one is giving up, we have to continue”

The coach stated that “the game was as we expected. We lacked fluidity with the ball and rhythm. In the end we had the ball, but didn’t generate any situations and there was a degree of uncertainty. There was no space and we lacked clarity. In the second half, with the changes, the game became very open. There were two clear chances, one from Ratiu and the clearest, from Rubén Castro,” he analysed. “We played more with our hearts than with our heads. The team tried, they gave everything and that’s the way to continue fighting, there is no other option,” he concluded in his analysis of the match.

The tie doesn’t fulfil the team's ambition: “We need to win, it was a very important day, with the reception and record attendance. This gave us a real boost, so it’s been a hard blow. Now the focus is on the match in Ponferrada, it’s such a difficult situation. We have gotten there fighting as we’ve focused on the next match. We have to continue fighting and working hard,” he said.

Rubén Castro is a living legend of our football and today, unfortunately, he didn’t manage to convert from the penalty spot in what was the clearest chance of the match: “He’s a goal scorer, a legend we’ve seen in many situations. We have to pick ourselves up, let's hope we can turn it around in Ponferrada. We have to move on, there’s no other way. They are extreme situations, which we saw in the first half. We have to put that fear aside, it’s difficult to manage. We’re thinking about getting the players back, they are exhausted, on a physical and mental level,” he pointed out.

Pellicer already has the recipe to win the next three points: “In Ponferrada we are going to show a better version of ourselves than we did today, without the anxiety we had in the first half,” he stated.

The run-up to the match was marked by a vibrant reception from the fans. The coach commented: “Today with the reception from the fans we were in tears. I try to maintain the focus on my people, preparing the next match. We’re in a critical situation, but we just have to keep fighting. If we had given up, we’d be like other teams. We have to give everything, with fight, dedication and sacrifice for the remainder of the season. No one is giving up, we have to continue, knowing the reality. Our reality is the Ponferrada match,” he explained.

Pellicer is self-critical in his analysis of the standings: “We have earned being in this situation. We have to see the things that we’ve done well in the matches, only winning, winning and winning will do. This draw is not enough. We’re going to try to be in the game,” he added.

The atmosphere experienced today at La Rosaleda has been incredible. Within the reach of very few fans in the world: “Thank you to the fans and we’re sorry. They have so much passion. We thank them and will continue the fight. We’ll get where we get, but we’re going to fight,” he concluded.