Javier Aguirre could not hide his disappointment at losing the Copa del Rey final against Athletic in a penalty shootout and was proud of his players.
How does it feel?
We are disappointed, it is a feeling of cruelty. It was a good Copa del Rey that ended badly. The round is a coin toss. In the semifinals it came up heads and now it comes up tails. We cannot blame ourselves for anything.
How is the locker room?
“I’m not in yet, but I’ve told the players to keep their heads up. We’re a family. We’ve given what we’ve got, nothing more. We need to be in the First Division, we’ve got a long way to go. Dream of penalties.
We played a decent match, maybe not spectacular from the fans’ point of view, but this is what interests us. “We had a long night but we can’t flagellate ourselves because Madrid come on Saturday.”
What did you and Abdon talk about?
He deserves to play, this is the essence of Mallorca. I want to put it but it’s a football thing. He and other players put the team before individuality. This team is a family and it is very difficult to achieve something like this. I am glad.
Possible renewal?
“Right now I’m focused on the league. “I don’t have time to think about anything other than being permanent and trying to close the year well.”
The list of injured
“I have 24 players and all of them, without exception, are connected to the team. No one notices the absence or presence of anyone. We all have a very similar level and we focus on the same thing. We are family. Sorry I have injuries but we have a way to solve it.”
Darder’s newness at eleven
“With Sergi, we wanted to get the ball. He is a player whose main characteristic is that. He has also improved a lot without it. He deserves to play like everyone else. At first I had my doubts. I think we did well. They make us complicated. We were 2-0 with Larin, who could have done more, and then I had to change the system because in the midfield they were one more. The offensive idea disappeared and we continued to the end. The perfect plan came out. Maybe most people won’t like it, but they will understand us.”
Advice to players
“Let them free themselves a little, drink a few beers and assimilate the defeat. Tomorrow I want them to recover and prepare for the match in Madrid. “The league asks this of us.”
What is your assessment of the Cup?
“The final of the Copa del Rey is not in our project. It happened and we found ourselves in a final that usually includes Barça, Madrid, Athletic… Last year we showed that with great confidence and unity we can compete with a team that on paper is superior. “I have nothing to blame on my players.”
What about Aguirre after the defeat?
“I lost a lot, more than I won. My family was there and seeing them from there, what they suffered… It was the person, not the professional, who suffered for them. i’m fine Tomorrow I will start thinking about Madrid and see how I can survive that match. It should be returned as soon as possible. You cannot flagellate yourself. I don’t know how much professional football I have left, but I enjoyed it now. I want to thank the fans and the families who came here. And also let them know that we sold defeat.
Who decides who gets the penalties?
“A little bit of everything. We assess how they perform during the week, their mood, their physical condition… I consult with my assistants and more or less we agree. I don’t ask them, I appointed them. “I am the person most responsible for this defeat.”
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
