Osasuna’s Coach Alessio Lisci Reflects on Recent Victory

Alessio Lisci, the head coach of Osasuna, praised his team’s recent victory, noting that for once, “luck has turned in our favor.” He remarked, “Winning in stoppage time is significant, especially with the defense under pressure. It was a typical match between two teams that press hard. When this occurs, the game often becomes unattractive, which explains the numerous chances created by both sides.”

Regarding a controversial incident involving Boyomo, Lisci stated, “For me, it was not a penalty. I must say that if there’s not a brave person in the VAR, they may not make the call. We have had more significant situations this year where the VAR did not intervene.” He highlighted the need for courage in VAR decisions, particularly in light of the uncalled handball by Boyomo in the box.

Lisci emphasized the significance of the victory, stating, “It is very important, and I conveyed this to the team; they needed to win for themselves. The previous match warranted more from us, and we deserved such joy after frequently putting in strong performances. Winning in this manner provides an incredible boost, and I am genuinely happy for the players and our fans. Their support has been tremendous, right until the final whistle. It’s incredible.”

On Victor Muñoz’s goal scored in the 93rd minute, he commented, “The game was very fragmented, and we kept pushing until we succeeded.”

Regarding the goals conceded, he reflected, “Both came from corners at the end. On the first corner, Catena could have been closer, but it was a brilliant goal. Fede Viñas’s header was remarkable. On the second, we allowed a scrappy play. We need to do better at blocking Hassan’s stronger foot to prevent such clean crosses, but he is incredibly fast and difficult to contain. While there is always room for improvement, we are performing well in terms of offensive set pieces. The opponent plays, and we must avoid those situations, but I believe our attempts were commendable.”

On the decision to start Herrando over Boyomo, he explained, “I think Jorge Herrando is on an upward trajectory and is performing well, despite the inevitable errors all defenders make. Additionally, given the physical profile of Fede Viñas, I believed Herrando could provide us with more support. Physically, he adds height, which we lose when we play with four defenders. This is also true when Javi Galán plays instead of Abel Bretones. Currently, he is doing well, and we will make decisions based on the opponent’s profile.”