Pellicer: “We experienced such a bitter defeat”

Match review

“As frustrated as we are satisfied with the team’s performance. Certain small errors are costing us. The first goal comes from a throw-in, a cross. Then, when the game was essentially over, the outcome wasn’t what we wanted, but over the course of the match, our aim was to stop the bleeding we’ve been experiencing away from home, and that’s football. It’s a situation we’ll have to analyse. Very frustrating because it’s very painful. There’s a lot of pain in the dressing room. It hurts even more because it happened in stoppage time. At that moment, we should have been a little calmer. It’s a learning experience; we are constantly in this process. We can’t blame the players, they gave everything. We’ve had many changes due to the Cup, players with cards… We’ve been adjusting, and when it seemed like we could have closed the game on a counterattack, with Castellón’s brutal attacking presence by numbers, which we were defending well, they still created chances, but we were obstructing and limiting them. In the end, with two defensive lapses, this situation happened. It’s very painful, but this has to be a learning experience for what’s ahead.”

Points to correct

“The game isn’t lost on set-piece situations. We had control of the match, but we lacked a bit of speed change when we got past their first line of pressure. Despite controlling the game, they could hurt us on any set-piece or quick transition. We were a little too rushed in our final decisions, in that last pass. In the second half, we started very well and scored the goal. After that, except for the action behind us, the match was under control but fell apart in the final minutes. It became chaotic; the opposing team had nothing to lose and went all out. We needed to be more precise in our transitions and a bit calmer on the ball. That gave them energy, and with little time left, they scored and it felt like the game was over. We take a corner and then a throw-in leads to a goal. These are things that really hurt, but the players’ commitment and effort have been incredible. It hurts even more when you’re so close and this happens. We have to accept it, and tell our fans it’s very painful given how it unfolded, but this is football. We have to understand that two years ago we got promoted to the Second Division in the last play. That doesn’t count now because we have to focus on something else. We need to keep working to turn things around, correct our mistakes, and achieve what Castellón managed today, turning a game around in just five minutes. That’s the challenge we face this season.”

Bouncing back

“This is fixed through work, less talking, more working. In the end, it’s achieved through effort, being self-critical, and each of us taking responsibility. Today is a very tough day, but I’m also very satisfied with the team’s work. Those two things together create a feeling of guilt, because there are small details in the game that we’re not getting right. It has to be a learning experience. If we manage days like this properly, they become opportunities to do better. We’ve taken a step back, and now we have to work to take three steps forward. That’s all we can do.”

Tough day

“Right now, the dressing room is feeling pain because they’ve given a tremendous effort. You have to understand this wonderful game. We manage so many emotions and passions because things like this happen. Today we experienced such a bitter defeat, but we understand that we must keep working and get back up.”