Coudet Reflects on Team Performance Following Disheartening Loss

Coach Coudet expressed satisfaction with the performance of his players but acknowledged the disappointment of losing to a highly skilled opponent.

Regarding the defeat, he remarked, “It affects me. The team played well, but the opponent demonstrated pure quality. The first two shots on goal resulted in exquisite goals that were difficult to prevent. It hurts, but the players performed admirably, and the responsibility falls on me.”

On the team’s improvement, he stated, “We must be honest. We struggle to score. While we delivered a commendable performance, losing 3-1 makes it hard to assert that we played well. The opponent’s quality overshadowed our positives. We had more ball possession and more attempts on goal… Statistically, we were superior in every category, but they don’t forgive mistakes. They have excellent players.”

Addressing the issue of anxiety, Coudet said, “We discussed a lot because we were not ourselves in the last match. We lost our essence. Today, we needed to play well to try to win. The frustrating part is that I believe we did play well, but we faced a very high-caliber opponent, which leads to the frustration of performing well yet still losing and conceding three goals. Sometimes, it’s inevitable against teams with such decisive players. I haven’t been able to watch the first goal again. Who do we hold accountable? It’s a tough situation. The players did great, and if anyone made a mistake, it’s the coach.”

Reflecting on the cup match specifics, he said, “Denis and Carlos (Protesoni) were unavailable, and we’re uncertain how Lucas will respond. There was significant exertion required. To execute the game plan effectively, we needed a physically demanding match, and we accomplished that. We became a physically competitive team again. Carlos Vicente was struggling with cramps towards the end.”

On the feeling of helplessness, he noted, “A perfect performance is necessary to secure a win. We aimed to win and regain our identity. We could have earned more points that we haven’t secured. As a coach, I take pride in our efforts against an opponent of this stature. We had an excellent first half, and I stressed that we couldn’t afford to let up. Who is to blame for the goal by Moleiro? The responsibility lies with him.”