Martin Valjent, Sergi Darder and Jan Virgili reflected on our 2-1 defeat to Deportivo Alavés in a series of post-match interviews. Find out what our trio had to say below.
Martin Valjent
On the game: "I think we started well; we played with character in the first half. We could have scored, we practically dominated the game through our possession, but in the second half it was the complete opposite. We weren’t controlling the game through possession and I think it came down to their physicality, the set-pieces... They really gave that little bit extra in the duels, which is what led them to win the match. And that has to be our strength, not theirs. We need to be self-critical. There are five vital matches left for our objective. We need to lift our heads up and face it with all our strength."
On the fans: ‘Thank you so much, as always. You’re so important to us when you come and travel to support us. In Girona we have to give it our all so that both you and we can come away with a win.’
Sergi Darder
On the game: "It’s probably the most frustrating defeat. We’ve had plenty and they all are, but today’s, because of the nature of the match, because of how it went, because I think it was a match we were controlling very well and a corner killed us. In the second half we let ourselves be dominated. We had everything going for us, we’d devised a perfect game plan to counter the conditions of this pitch, but in the second half things didn’t go as we’d hoped."
On the second half: "I don’t think they dominated us in the second half. I think we were the ones who let ourselves be dominated. We’re a team that doesn’t know how to play it safe; we’re not as solid as we’d like to be in that respect. We’ll keep going, but today’s result really hurts. The dressing room is in a right mess, but I think experienced players like me, who’ve been through tough situations, need to help everyone see that today and tomorrow will be tough, but that from Monday onwards we’ve got no choice but to give it our all. Admitting that the second half was poor, we were on a positive run and the team that stays mentally strong right now will climb out of the bottom. From Monday onwards, we have to start getting strong again as we were doing and put this behind us as soon as possible."
Jan Virgili
On the game: "We were on a good run. I think we played very well in the first half, but we have to accept that the second half wasn’t very good. Ultimately, we have to be strong and give our all in the five remaining matches.
On losing the lead: ‘We’ve done the hardest part, which is taking the lead. It’s happened to us before, and I think we need to know how to hold onto the lead and be stronger and more united, but now we need to look at the mistakes we’ve made and give our all in the upcoming matches.’
On the fans: ‘First of all, I’d like to thank them very much for coming. We’re stronger with them. I hope they keep coming; we need them. If the fans and the team are united, it will be much easier."
