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Martínez: "The way forward is the way that we played in the second half"

The RCD Espanyol coach analyses the loss to Sevilla FC

Speaking after the final whistle in RCD Espanyol's 2-3 loss to Sevilla FC, coach Diego Martínez expressed his belief that his team deserved more from the game.

"We couldn't have started worse in terms of the scoreline. We put everything in the opposition's favour," he stated. "The team reacted well. I think when it was 0-1 we deserved more. Mistakes in the Primera División are costly, but here any success or failure here is collective, as a team, starting with the coach -especially when it comes to mistakes. In the second half we deserved a lot more. However, when you go up against a Champions League team, with such quality, it's difficult when you go are trailing."

Martínez also noted that a change in tactics used was largely irrelevent once the team were trailing so significantly.

"It's relative. After they made it 0-1 we had very good moments and that was the dynamic. There is no formation that can handle you going 0-3 down against Sevilla. We deserved an equaliser in the second half," he explained.

The coach was left lamenting some defensive mistakes, which he described as "as shame."

"We have to improve in that facet, but we have to improve everything. Together we have to achieve that harmony. The way forward is the way that we played in the second half. We have always been very honest about our reality. I agree that we have to improve our defensive solidity and not concede goals."

"We have to forget about previous years. This is a new journey, which we have started from scratch, with a lot of adversity. The team's mentality is positive, and the players give everything. As I already said in Bilbao, we will have to sweat blood to win games, because we are right at the limit."

Commenting on RCD Espanyol having lost three home games in a row, Martínez said that "It is what it is. I think we have deserved more. We will fight to the fullest, at home and away. We came into this one with optimal confidence, but it wasn't to be. We go home with a good feeling about the second half, but with a bitter taste from the first. We have to keep going. Nobody said that this was going to be easy."