Marcelino Critiques Team’s Performance After Defeat to Getafe

omidbasir- Marcelino refrained from making excuses for his team’s defeat against Getafe, instead expressing a critical view of their performance. The Asturian manager stated that his team failed to adapt to the demands of the match and made errors that proved decisive. He emphasized that the penalty awarded for a foul by Veiga in the first half was unquestionable, but criticized the referee for adding significantly less stoppage time than was warranted during the second half.

Regarding the justified victory of Getafe, Marcelino noted, “We knew how the game had to be played, but we did not execute accordingly. The first half was too passive, particularly in attack, where we lacked depth. When you do not penetrate the opponent’s area, winning becomes impossible. Although they did not create many chances, they capitalized on a foolish mistake. Grabbing an opponent by the shirt is a clear penalty; we had discussed avoiding two situations to secure a victory: not going a man down and avoiding penalties. We failed in both respects. In the second half, another error cost us, and it is only natural that we faced such consequences. However, from that point, we played better, pushing players forward as seen in the goal. Unfortunately, such instances were too few. Getafe’s victory was deserved, and we contributed to our downfall through errors that must be avoided to win in this setting.”

Marcelino further elaborated on the team’s inability to adapt, stating, “We had a clear understanding of how the match would unfold, especially with the wind and an uneven pitch. However, adaptation is crucial, and there are no excuses. We did not earn the right to win, and sometimes one can win without merit, but it is not the norm. They deserved it more than we did, capitalizing on our mistakes, which led to their fair win.”

On the subject of reliance on Moleiro, he remarked, “There is no dependence on Moleiro; football is a collective sport. Both he and Cardona were unwell yesterday, and with another match in four days, we deemed it prudent not to take risks.”

Concerning the issue of added time, Marcelino stated, “I discussed this with the referee, yet I still struggle to understand it. If five minutes and 15 seconds are lost in a play, considering all the interruptions, goals, and substitutions, seven minutes of added time seems insufficient, especially with another substitution in stoppage time. This is far below what we all observed. Not long ago, we saw 12 minutes added in a match, which felt more just. While teams are within their rights to take time-wasting measures, the ultimate responsibility lies with the referee. I intend to remain respectful, but I feel the amount of added time granted was excessively minimal.”

Lastly, regarding Pau’s critique of Getafe’s gameplay post-match, Marcelino commented, “Pau’s views do not align with mine, but everyone is free to express their opinions. It is true that perceptions on the field can differ, but the circumstances remain unchanged and must be prioritized. Factors such as opposing players’ theatrics or the referee’s decisions are beyond our control. What we can control is improving our defensive strategy against crosses and enhancing our overall performance to achieve victory.”