Marcelino: "We need to pick ourselves back up quickly, because on Thursday we are back in action."

Disappointed with the defeat against Eibar, VCF coach Marcelino spoke to the media in his post-match press conference after the Matchday 35 encounter.

The result

"We had to win in order to move into fourth place, and we didn’t manage it. What’s the explanation? The opposition overcame us. They adapted better to the game. Eibar have a very clear identity, whilst we were inconsistent; we lost the ball a lot and that created insecurity."

Lack of finishing

"We started the second half very well and had chances, but we didn’t put them away. We needed to win, and it became a back-and-forth encounter. In the final stages of the game, you could see that, as it went from a chance for us to a chance for Eibar.

"We’re sad, because we were very excited about this game. We knew that a win would put us in fourth place. We need to pick ourselves back up quickly, because on Thursday we are back in action. Congratulations to Eibar, because overall, over the course of the game, they did more to win the game than we did."

Chances of taking fourth place

"We have to fight to the end, always. Besides this, we have to finish as high up the table as possible. Fourth place will be difficult, but if we can’t get that, then we need to place fifth. And if we can’t get fifth, then sixth. There are many games to go in LaLiga for all the teams in these spots."

Looking ahead to Arsenal

"Now we have to forget about this blow quickly, because on Thursday we have a nice, attractive game that is important. We need to approach it with joy, conviction and the knowledge that we are in a good point of the season, and knowing that this was a game in which we the players gave their all but weren’t quite efficient enough to win."