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“There are games still to play and we have to keep going”
Abelardo is self-critical and recognises that the team didn’t have chances to win the game
RCD Espanyol de Barcelona suffered a painful defeat at El Sadar. The ‘blanquiazul’ coach, Abelardo Fernández, admitted that his team were not at the required level and urged all Espanyol fans to believe. “There are games still to play and we have to keep going. We can’t give up. We were bad today; it’s the worst game since I arrived. I got the line up wrong, the planning wrong and Osasuna were much better. We lost because of a minor detail, but we never looked like winning the game. We played very badly because I got the starting eleven wrong and the planning in the build up to the game. We’re a way off survival now, but we cannot give up and we have to try to win on Sunday to keep ourselves in the fight”, the coach said.
The ‘blanquiazul’ coach insisted that the team has to keep going even though “it’s getting harder and harder because the gap has increased and there are fewer games left. We need a win like we need food to get points on the board and regain that confidence”. The Asturian said that he can only ask that the fans “keep believing in us: the team will fight to the end, I hope this can be a turning point. The positive is that we can’t play like this again. They tried everything, but nothing went right for us. The players’ attitude is ten out of ten; I’ll defend them to the death. This result is my responsibility”.
“It’s a difficult situation because we’re last and that’s tough. We have to keep working, keep giving everything…if it doesn’t work out, it won’t be for lack of effort. It was an important game and we didn’t rise to the challenge. Now it’s time to turn the page and start thinking about the game against Alavés”, he finished.