SaiPa lost to HPK in the home match with 2–8 goals. According to Markkanen, both the management and the players must make sure that Wednesday’s performance does not repeat itself.
8.12. 14:38•Updated 8.12. 14:48
CEO of Liiga-SaiPa Jussi Markkanen has opened up about his feelings after the team’s crushing defeat on Wednesday.
SaiPa lost to HPK in the home match in Lappeenranta with 2–8 goals. It was the ugliest home loss of the season for the team.
– Our team’s performance yesterday on December 7, 2022 was unforgivable. It’s a fact that happened and there’s no escaping it. We’re going through things and recent events with a grain of salt, as always. A good week has passed since we were on a winning streak and everything looked better, Markkanen writes on the club’s Facebook page published on Thursday in writing (you switch to another service).
According to Markkanen, both the management and the players must make sure that Wednesday’s performance does not repeat itself.
– The task of the players and all of us is to put ourselves out there every day, it shows respect for the club and its supporters, Markkanen writes.
He also appeals to supporters.
– Supporters are also weighed in difficult times, now you are needed more than ever!
Fifth straight loss
Wednesday’s loss was series jumbo to SaiPa Fifth in a row.
The current losing streak started with the ugliest defeat of the season a week and a half ago, when Ilves lost 8-1 in Tampere.
SaiPa’s head coach Ville Hämäläinen apologized to the spectators at the press conference after the match.
– I apologize to everyone who came here. Our performance was nowhere near what was sought. I take responsibility for this, that we could not prepare the team in any way. I am very sorry to all the viewers, Hämäläinen stated at the press conference.
Hämäläinen admitted that the team’s situation is quite difficult at the moment.
– There shouldn’t be any big crisis, but the coaching, team, players and guardians are all in the same boat. Tonight’s performance was unforgivable, Hämäläinen said.