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"We lacked clarity"

Diego Martínez reflects on defeat to Rayo

Diego Martínez spoke in a press conference following his side’s defeat to Rayo Vallecano on Friday night.

RCD Espanyol were beaten 2-0 at the RCDE Stadium, as goals from Isi Palazón and Pathé Ciss either side of half-time secured a comprehensive victory for Rayo. The coach reflected on the game afterwards, and emphasised the importance of the final few weeks of the transfer window.

Martínez said, “Evidently it isn’t the dream debut. The first half was good. We saw what we wanted in the first half hour, but with the red cards it is a different game. The first half hour was good and then we went into the break 1-0 down and with 10 men.”

Having started well, Sergi Gómez was sent off when VAR deemed he had fouled a Rayo forward. The visitors soon found the breakthrough to pile on the misery for Espanyol, despite having been reduced to 10 men at the start of the game.

On the performance, Martínez said, “We lacked clarity. We lacked quality in the middle and in breaking the lines. Above all, we were lacking precision. In these games, a goal gives you a lot of morale and it didn’t come. As well as this, their goals came at a very difficult time on a psychological level.”

The coach continued, “This is LaLiga, it’s very difficult. It’s a necessity to all share this responsibility as a team. I believe in Espanyol, I believe in these players. We have to fight, we have to move forward. The fans encouraged us all game long.”

“We have to fight with what we have, and we are all aware of what we need,” Martínez said. “We have to fight with everything in the game. I hope that we can complete our squad in the transfer market. It gets more difficult because we have less time. ”