Like a jug of cold water, the tie fell in the 89th of Chris Ramos. Las Palmas coach, Xavier García Pimienta appeared before the media to comment on the 2-2 scoreline. A match that is once again marked by set pieces. “We had talked about trying to avoid by all means, fouls in which we were superior in this situation, it was a three-on-one defense in our favor.” And a center from a set piece that Sebas bounces and that cost the yellows two points. “The lack of concentration or the fear that the goal will be scored in the last option, because I think that the rest of the actions of the match that Lugo has had, we have defended very well, with enough order and there have been no dangerous occasions by them and we stood up in the 89th minute and we lacked that forcefulness”.
The coach confessed that the goal at the end of the game is “difficult to assimilate, because I think we have done well to win today.” He also said that “the team never lost face in the game and we were able to come back from Lugo’s 0-1 deficit with a good attitude, with good football. I think that sometimes in the second half I think we did quite well , with scoring chances”.
He also stated “That I refuse to think that this squad doesn’t give for more because I see them train and I see how screwed they are today after this game, what happened last week in Zaragoza, the day of Burgos”. That is why he thinks that “to which we hook a couple of positive results, this is going to go up”. However, it is growing day by day “this little psychosis that the set piece condemns us a lot and it is true. Therefore we have to improve if we want to be up”. Although he acknowledged again that “the mistakes we make penalize us a lot, a lot, a lot.”
match analysis
“I think we have started quite well, with the normal domain in which we want to carry the weight of the game, I think even with certain danger arrivals. The 0-1 play conditions us and makes us a little nervous. Hence the error we have, which is almost the 0-2 play that hits the crossbar. But hey, I think the next play is Rafa Mujica’s equalizer. The team never lost face of the game and we were able to come back from Lugo’s 0-1 deficit with a good attitude, with good football. I think that sometimes in the second half we have done quite well, with scoring chances. And yes, it is true that the last minutes condition us not to do 3-1. I remember Peñaranda’s occasion, which is quite clear, that normally it should be a goal and the game is practically over. We are not capable. I have not seen it repeated, but it is Jesé’s foul, it seems to me, not the move from 2 to 2, which may be a bit unnecessary because there were three of us Get one into that action. I seem to remember that we had talked about trying to avoid by all means, fouls in which we were superior in this situation, it was a defense of three against one in our favor. I have seen the play live, I have not seen it repeated. They tell me that there are a couple of rejections and the mark of the second option is lost. Difficult, difficult to assimilate, because I think that today we have made merits to win. It has not been possible. And the lack of concentration or the fear that the goal will be scored in the last option, because I think that the rest of the actions of the match that Lugo has had we have defended very well, with enough order and there have been no dangerous occasions by them and we planted ourselves in the 89th minute and we have lacked that forcefulness. It’s a shame, a shame because really, I think we deserved the victory.”
The objective is still to fight to enter promotion
“I refuse to think that. I see them train, I see them, I also see them play. At the end of the day, when starting tomorrow I begin to analyze the game, regardless of the result, win, lose or tie As is the case, we have to analyze the game in all the things that have happened, the things we have done well and the things we have not done well to try to correct them, so I think we have deserved more for the merits that the team. But it’s clear that if you don’t have defensive forcefulness or offensive efficiency, you don’t win games. It’s clear that the team plays well, they have possession of the ball. In many situations they subdue the rival, but all that has to be translated in effectiveness in front of goal, that it is useless to generate 5, 6, 7 occasions and then you do not end up materializing. Today on top of that we have managed to score two goals, do the most difficult thing, which is to turn the score around after 0-1 in front of a team that is working very well worn out and who knows how to defend very well, which was very difficult and in the last few minutes that mistake in not committing that foul that I think we should have avoided by all means, because it was not a very dangerous play by Lugo. And then, if these mistakes are made, try to be strong when it comes to set pieces. The truth is that it is a shame, but I refuse to think that this squad is not enough because I see them train and I see how screwed they are today after this game, what happened last week in Zaragoza, the day of the Burgos and I really think that we hooked a couple of positive results, this is going to go up. Naturally now we have this little psychosis that the set piece condemns us a lot and it is true. Therefore we have to improve if we want to be at the top.”
They conceded little to Lugo in the second half but it was not enough
“They are losing and trying to change the game. In the end, they know that we are a team that has possessions. Still, I think we had the ball in quite a few dominating situations. I think we conceded very little to Lugo. In the end, I really don’t remember in the second half dangerous actions by them. I don’t remember any, except the last set piece which, as I repeat, is avoidable. And naturally, when you are losing you have to play a little more and try to play it. The team dominated, we created two or three goal situations. I remember Peña’s as soon as the second half began, Jesé’s, which is perhaps not a very clear chance, but it was a scoring chance. The team went for the game, dominated and defensively we didn’t concede much to Lugo after winning. But it doesn’t help us, it doesn’t help us. I see the ability these players have on a day-to-day basis and it surprises me that where we are classified, because I really believe that the boys you They have quality for more and the locker room is very screwed up, very screwed up because we missed two points that we needed and that I think made us change the chip to get hooked on positive results and get into the top”.
Message to the fans
“We try to do the best we can. One of the messages in the locker room is that we play for the fans. We don’t ask the fans of the Unión Deportiva de Las Palmas for anything to cheer them up and when the game is over, yes to show their opinion. We play by and for them. Naturally we want to win for ourselves too, but above all we do it for fans who are proud of their players. People fight, people work. I can assure you. I day to day I see how committed the team is and I am convinced that when things go well, the fans will be proud. From here I ask you to please continue to encourage the players because they really deserve it and with them we are much stronger there are still 13 games left. There are many points at stake. The squad is really annoyed and I am convinced that if we get one or two positive results this will go up , I’m convinced”.
key moment of the season
“Every time we wear this shirt, we owe it to this shield, to this fans and that all the games of the season, regardless of the classification, we have to try to win them. We still have a possible margin of getting into the top six and that is the objective. We are not going to lower our arms as long as it is mathematically possible. And as I say, there are many games left at stake. We are going to a difficult field next week. Then Girona comes, but we are going to think about the next one, which is the Huesca game, which will be very difficult because the Huesca squad is of a high level, but I think the team is capable. They were able to win in Cartagena playing an excellent game and I am convinced that they would play a good game winning and 1- 2 games in a row. Everyone is going to believe, because I really believe that people do a lot of things well and penalize us a lot, a lot, a lot for the mistakes we make and they don’t hit us and we have to recognize it and we’ll continue working do on that. Let no one have the slightest doubt that the next normal will fight to get into the top six, for sure.”
Performance by Rafa Mujica
I start with an advantage with Rafa because I have known him since the Barcelona stage. I know the person who is the footballer that he is, from the first day I told him that he had to work very hard to earn the title. In the end I try to give the best of each game. The match against Real Sociedad. If I remember correctly, it was a very good 30 minutes. The boy has continued to work better than good during all of these. All these weeks waiting for his opportunity. He has scored a great goal until he scored a headed goal. Also a very good shot in the first part. He has intervened directly in the play of the second goal and has done a brutal defensive job. And what he has to do is keep it up. He has had the opportunity and he has taken advantage of it and he has to keep working because the competition is maximum. I am very happy for the boy because he really deserves it. Apart from the great game he has played for a striker, scoring goals is very important and I think this is the line to follow. Let’s hope this streak continues.”