The Rico Pérez stadium smiled again after Hércules' 2-1 victory against Ibiza, a result that secures the team's permanence in Primera RFEF. However, the blue-and-white coach, Beto Company, was not entirely happy with his players' performance, as they struggled to defeat an opponent with ten men.
“"The match was like the season, full of ups and downs. Strange, with two teams built to be higher up, and here we are, three games from the end, looking more down than up. Our start was good, from the tenth minute until the goal, they were better. In those minutes, we suffered because they found us well inside and in transition."
The goal that put Hércules ahead came just before halftime, scored by Mehdi Puch. Company described the play as unaesthetic but effective. "The goal comes at a strange moment, but in a situation we insisted on, where we cross and see what happens. It's the ugliest goal in history, but it's worth the same as the most beautiful one," confessed the coach.
Despite the victory and numerical superiority, the team struggled to maintain the result. "In the second half, we started well, then came that strange play with the expulsion, and we weren't able to move them from side to side. When we had it best, fear crept in about losing what we had, and they were uninhibited because they were already lost," explained Company. With these three points, the team remains alive in the fight for the Copa del Rey.
The match was also marked by injuries to Calavera and Nacho. The coach lamented the possible loss of Calavera for the rest of the season, while Nacho's situation is pending evaluation. Company highlighted the contribution of Bolo and Mangada, whose entry was "excellent."
Regarding the team's physical preparation, Beto Company defended the work done, attributing the injuries to the nature of football. "It's football. Calavera's injury comes from a strike. Anyone who has played football knows that with every strike, you risk your quadriceps. In Calavera's case, there's nothing more than that, and Nacho's is a blow. There's nothing physical preparation can do there. We are happy with the team's physical preparation," he stated.
Finally, the coach spoke about the youth academy, assuring that he would not call up reserve players just for show, but would give them real opportunities when the time is right. "The reserve players are just that, from the reserve team, whom we want to see, they have a lot of future. They have the role of helping us, and if at any point we need to choose them, we will do so without any problem," concluded Company.
