Martin Valjent, Jose Copete, Sergi Darder and Jagoba Arrasate spoke to the media after our 2-1 defeat to Celta Vigo. Find out what the players and the boss had to say below.
Martin Valjent:
On the match: "It's a pity because it's an important match, at home, with all the excitement. We started by winning the game and played what I think was a good first half. In the second half I think that, not only because of the goals, but also because of the way we felt, we weren't able to make accurate passes or transitions. In the end, we lost the game, but it's good for us to improve, to learn, to unite even more and to keep fighting. There are eight games left and we'll see how far we get, but we know that we have to always give our best, otherwise we can't hope for more."
On the changes: "We had 25 [players] ready, people are looking forward to playing the games. It's a pity that people have to go out physically injured, but I don't think it doesn't [condition]. Hopefully those who are injured will recover soon and, nothing, we're all rowing in the same direction together."
On the team moving forward: "Of course, I don't think we should be disappointed with a defeat. We wanted to win, obviously, we started the game well. In the end we didn't manage to win it, I think, to the merit of our opponents, who played a great game, and I think also because of some of our own mistakes, that's football. But we're talking about an illusion, about wanting to do something more than we've done lately, so we have to give our best: players, coaches, the club, the fans, everyone. If not, it won't be possible."
On the second goal of the season: "The goal is good, it helped at that moment, but in all honesty: if we don't win, we don't score. The only emotion, I don't want to say sadness, but the disappointment of the result. I'm a defender, two goals conceded hurt me more than the ones I could score. But as I say, I'm upbeat, with the desire to do better every day, all together."
José Manuel A. Copete:
On the match: "A pity. As they say, it was an important match, and we were really looking forward to getting the three points. I think we had a pretty good first half, with things to improve, but we had gone away with that advantage. We didn't know how to take advantage of the second half. Celta imposed their game in the second half, they outplayed us. I think we made several mistakes, and we need to take a cold look at them and be self-critical, work hard to turn the situation around and try to get the three points in the next game."
On the draw: "I think you have to stop, take a good look at it and analyse everything, but it's true that they were better in the second half and that was enough for them to come back. I think we have to improve a lot of things to continue to be there, to continue to excite the fans and work hard to go to the next game to get something positive."
On looking ahead: "The illusion is there. Based on, I think, self-criticism and work, we will continue to be more alive at the end of the season. We have to work, we have to think about improving ourselves and from there we'll surely be closer to getting our best collective version."
Sergi Darder:
On the match: "I don't think we played a good game, neither in the first half nor in the second. It's true that they didn't play well in the first half either, but I think that's to our credit. It's true that defensively we played a good game, but we weren't able to link four passes in a row, and that against a team that wants the ball and is uncomfortable not having it, I think we lacked a lot of pace, calmness, settling down in the opposition half. And the second half was a lack of control: I think the goal hurt us, we didn't have the composure to know that we had to get through bad minutes, we went crazy, we lost our composure. Well, it was a bad game, but there are still a lot of games left to turn it around."
On pushing for Europe: "Nobody will take away our hopes. We have to recognise that today is a blow, but we're also the same team that got 40 points. We mustn't forget that other teams are fighting for much worse things, and we have to recognise that we have done things very well this season, just as we have to recognise that we haven't done things well today. For both the good and the bad I think we all have to stick together. We can't start today, because of a bad game, to start throwing shit at each other and say that there is no ambition or illusion because it's not real. It was simply a bad team, like the ones we can play in these remaining games and like others we have played during the season. I think we also have to look at all the good things we've done."
Jagoba Arrasate:
On the match: "A very big disappointment, it was an important match. I was really looking forward to this game and, well, we played a first half, I think it was a good one, where the game was even. We defended well, I think, and we did well with that set piece. It's a pity about the 2-0 with that action by Larin and after the goal I think they were superior, we weren't good at all and, especially in the last few minutes, that's not what we wanted".
On forced changes: "At the end of the day, when you make three forced changes for physical reasons and add to that the two suspended players we had, plus Robert Navarro, we're talking about six important players for us. But well, a coach, beyond accepting the reality that we were missing six players, also has to recognise that in the second half Celta were better and, above all, that in the last few minutes we weren't at our best. We have to correct that."
On the injured players: "Muriqi asked for a substitution, he was already coming back from last week when he couldn't play, it will probably be the same area. Takuma was hurt, and Manu Morlanes had an overload. We'll see how they are, but I don't know if they'll be able to recover in a week."
On moving forward: "It's a tough moment right now, but we are fighting for something that is exciting. We can't get down, there are eight games left. Now we see everything dark, but it's normal, it's the way it has to be, it has to hurt. But well, we have to work, train and get our spirits up for the next game."
