A match day against the first in the table. One team with quality and a lot of experience.
Our motivation to play this game was really high but, at the same time, nervousness it was there, really present. The first half was very competitive and balanced. I got onto the game, the firsts 10 minutes, we respected too much the opponent. We committed a few individual mistakes and we could not be loyal to our identity.
The opponent playing in a clear 4–4–2 with dynamic of 4-2-4. They wanted all the time do high pressing with 2 strikers. In many occasions we built up well the game in the first phase but then we were not smart enough no keep controlling the game in other zones. A lot of nervous that bring bad decisions and we couldn’t manage well the rithm of the game and find the right spaces.
Even like that, we found the way to score the 1-0, with Dani, after a great pass from Rorke to Garret on the line and then the goal from Dani, 40 minutes of game. We were well organized in our defensive structure, but keep committing stupid mistakes. We were giving faults in the line and give a corner for free, when we should solve the problem much easier and with efficiency. With that corner, for free, it came the 1-1 with 45minutes. That shows completely our lack of experience. Unfortunately one more goal conceded by corner.
In a half time I just asked the players why are they so nervous and why we cant play our football with more personality. We tried to give them confidence and keep avoiding mistakes that the opponet with experience will thank for us. The firsts 15 minutes of 2nd half we couldt get into the game. Players were showing a completely lack of experience and couldn’t react to the problems caused by opponent. The opponent always tried to force line and win free kicks and corners. And it was with one free kick, in a very easy and lack of concentration from our side that they scored in a very easy way.
After that, finally the team woke up. We still had 25/30 minutes to try to change the game. We did our best after, we changed the system to give more wideness to our attack and more players in the middle to control the game with ball and off the ball. We got 3 clear situations to score, by Dani, and 2 from Garret 1 on 1 with the keeper but we didn’t score and the result was the same until the end. This type of game make us grow up, its exactly the type of game with competition, quality and physicality that will make our players reach to the next step, but, only if they accept and learn with the mistakes.
Now its time to recover and think about next game and try our best to win and get back to the victories again.
Coaches: Edu, Pere, Ruben, Cloe, Sergio
