Marcelino Celebrates Team’s Victory and Highlights Key Performances

omidbasir- Marcelino expressed his satisfaction with his team’s victory, which helped to break a streak of negative results. The coach stated that they delivered a comprehensive performance and highlighted the effectiveness exhibited throughout the match.

Proud of his team, Marcelino remarked, “We are very proud to have accumulated 45 points at this stage of the competition. Two years ago, when I arrived here, we had only 42 points after the 32nd matchday. We were coming off a negative streak that we were eager to overcome, but as we know, football is challenging; it’s difficult to maintain such a high tempo throughout the season. In the league, we had just played two tough away matches and faced a defeat against Real Madrid at home, so we were very eager to secure a win.

Furthermore, it was a challenging match since we were up against the sixth-placed team. If they had won, they would have closed the gap to five points. Fortunately, we won clearly and decisively: we gained an 11-point advantage along with the goal difference, scoring four goals in total. We are extremely satisfied, and the fans were able to enjoy the match as well.”

Regarding the match performance, Marcelino said, “Overall, I believe we played a complete match. We started well, with two clear chances to take the lead and another shot from Jorge with his left foot that just went over the bar. There was a period where we had some turnovers that caused us discomfort and made us rush our play. However, after scoring the first goal, the second followed shortly after, which instilled a great deal of confidence in us, even though we were already dominating in the preceding minutes. The start of the second half was also excellent: we scored a fantastic goal from a superb team play, followed by a fourth goal from another extraordinary move. We are very pleased because, as you mentioned, we were once again decisive in both areas, allowing very little to the opponent and practically no scoring opportunities, apart from a late strategic goal.”

On Gerard Moreno’s absence from the starting lineup, he explained, “He did not start because he was experiencing discomfort throughout the week. He improved significantly during the training sessions leading up to the match, but on game day, he still wasn’t completely fit. We decided not to take any risks and placed Tejon in his position, while Nico moved to the forward line. These changes did not disrupt the team, as these players are accustomed to their respective roles.”

Regarding Pepé’s performance, Marcelino noted, “The match was very beneficial for him, as he had just come off a notable performance in Pamplona where he provided a crucial assist and earned a penalty. Today, he was active, dynamic, quick, and aggressive in attack, regaining his confidence and self-assurance. He is a vital player when performing at this level, and his contributions enhance the team as a whole.

As for the late goal conceded, Marcelino commented, “It’s unfortunate regarding the goal we conceded at the end, as it would have placed us third in the standings. However, it is a minor issue compared to other matches where conceding a goal in critical moments could have a far greater impact. What matters is that the team performed well collectively and achieved a very positive result.”