Santi Denia, coach of the Spanish Olympic soccer team, made self-criticism after the suffered victory against Uzbekistan (1-2) by making sure that “it is time to improve” and it is part of his “job” that he has to do by sending “better” to his players.
“For me it is not surprising. We reached our goal, but it was a very difficult game and now it’s time to improve. That’s my job, I have to transmit better,” he said in the zone after the game.
“Our ball circulation must always be high. We must move faster, give fewer touches. That’s the message, to speed up the ball, but I’m the first one who has to deliver that message, the idea of the game, better,” he continued.
“There was little talk at half-time. I told them to be themselves and improve the circulation of the ball, which is what we are missing. We need to improve that. If we do this we will have more options to achieve success,” he added.
A Santi Denia who praised the work of three over 23-year-olds – Abel Ruiz, Juan Miranda and Sergio Gómez – while defending Pau Cubarsí, whom he replaced at half-time after receiving a yellow card in the seventh minute of the game and taking a penalty.
“Everything is important. They’re obviously more experienced and I know them well, but I don’t want to personalize them because it’s a team effort. They are great teammates, they pull the group together and that is important, he said of Abel, Miranda and Sergio Gómez.
“The cards say a lot, but I’m happy with him. Play like angels and keep doing it. Cubans and Public They had a card and that conditioned their change,” he explained about Pau Cubarsí’s change.
The coach also praised the behavior of Sergio Gómez after missing a penalty three minutes before Spain’s second goal was scored.
“To be a champion we will all fail and make mistakes. The message should be to keep trying and be who you are and next time will come,” he said.
On the other hand, Santi Denia defended the level of the referee, the Mauritanian Beida Dahane. “Nothing to say, the referees who are here are also the best. With VAR sometimes it is against you and other times it is in your favor,” he said.
The coach emphasized the opportunity they have to concentrate on the Olympic Village, where they will only return if they qualify for the final.
“I was looking forward to Atlanta 1996. It was a dream for the players. With the difficulties that the Olympic Village provides for rest and food. “They joined a gang, they saw Nadal, Alcaraz… when they are old they will remember this experience,”
And finally, he doesn’t want to criticize the state of the grass, which some of his players have previously questioned in the mixed zone. “There is no excuse. It’s 3:00 pm in the middle of July and irrigation is what FIFA has set. We have to play football,” he concluded.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
