Corberán: “We need to digest the defeat and pick ourselves back up” | OneFootball

Valencia CF coach Carlos Corberán spoke after Valencia CF were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Athletic Club.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

A PAINFUL DEFEAT

The dressing room is disappointed and hurting because, given the support we received from the fans throughout the match, from the welcome to the bus to team's desire to bring joy to the supporters, this defeat is one of the most painful we've suffered to date.

The game was one of two halves. In the first half, we played better, but in the second, little by little, they took control of the game, and we missed our scoring opportunities. It reached that moment of balance where any small detail could have tipped the scales; they had their chance and capitalised on it. We didn't have enough opportunities, nor did we create enough chances to take advantage.

We're feeling pain because our enthusiasm was tremendous, and our desire to give the fans the joy of going through was immense. Right now, we have the disappointment of not having done it.

FULL COMMITMENT

The players are fully committed, and our desire to bring joy to our fans is immense. When you don't achieve what you want, there's always pain.

RECOVERING FROM THE DEFEAT

Today's result is a blow, because we were completely committed to advancing to the next round. We placed great importance on the Copa del Rey from the start and wanted to be among the four teams in the semifinal. Unfortunately, we didn't manage it, and that's hard for the team to accept because we were incredibly motivated. Now we have to focus on LaLiga. We have no choice but to process this disappointment as quickly as possible, pick ourselves up, and compete again in front of our fans on Sunday at Mestalla -and try to give our best to bring them the joy we so desperately want.

THE HOME ADVANTAGE

The disappointment and frustration also stem from not taking advantage of us playing at home. The support we received throughout the match was tremendous, with the fans cheering us on during our best moments and when we were struggling. Failing to capitalise on that home advantage makes this even more painful. Athletic's positioning was good in the opening minutes; we gradually improved our approach of playing high up the pitch to pressure them. We conceded a strange goal, and then in the final minutes of the first half, aside from the goal, we had opportunities to create more chances that we couldn't convert. When they took control, there weren't many clear-cut chances for either side. The penalty was their best opportunity, and we had a very good cross from Ugrinic to Hugo Duro, followed by Foulquier's run into the box, which could have been decisive. It didn't work out, and in the final moments, when it seemed the game was headed for extra time, they managed to score.

JAVI GUERRA

Yesterday he had a stomach bug, and suffered from fever and vomiting overnight. We were waiting to see how he progressed; his progress was positive, but he wasn't in perfect condition to play or perform at his usual level. Our confidence in him remains intact. There are matches like today's where changes are needed in other positions, and although one would prefer to use other players coming on from the bench, the circumstances necessitate other changes and don't allow for the modifications you might want.

MAKING SUBSTITUTIONS LATE

We also had Foulquier struggling with discomfort, and we had to wait to avoid rushing into a substitution that would leave us with one less player on the pitch. Changing a midfielder and then losing Foulquier, or rushing to substitute Foulquier, who wasn't at his best, and then losing a midfielder, was something we didn't want to happen.

THE NON-FOUL ON RAMAZANI

There was no replay. From our camera, the grab was clear. I understand the VAR official must have considered the grab insufficient, because there was one. But the referee or VAR decided that it wasn't a foul, because if it had been a foul, he was the last defender and it would have had a different outcome.

RESPONSIBILITY

I absolutely respect all criticism. I know what it means to be a coach, and when the team don't win games, I take full responsibility. I have to accept that responsibility, even though it pains me greatly, because we were incredibly motivated today.

THE WINGS

We didn't switch Danjuma and Rioja, except for one set piece that caught them closer to each others’ position. Rioja played on the right wing until we brought Diego on, and then he moved to the left. We saw that they could be vulnerable if we broke through that initial press. That was the reason for playing Luis on the left and Diego on the right. Also, because Diego was fresher and better able to provide support when they brought on Iñaki and Nico. We knew we had to give Foulquier a lot of support because he was struggling physically during the match, and we knew Diego's freshness could help him.

LOSING IN THE FINAL MINUTES

The two defeats, although they coincided more or less in terms of the minutes in which we conceded, are different. The other day we failed to properly understand the need to tighten up our defence and press less, but the eagerness to press led to that situation we couldn't resolve. Today the game opened up. In fact, the move leading up to the goal was an attack down the left flank that we didn't capitalise on. In trying to create a scoring opportunity because there was a chance of doing so, we lost possession, lost our positioning, and didn't handle the defensive transition well. We didn't defend the final move the way we should have. It has more to do with how we interpreted those specific situations than with how we managed the final minutes.

FOCUSING ON LALIGA

Now we have to process this pain, which is enormous for everyone: the staff, players, and fans. The team had the same desire and motivation as the fans to advance to the next round. We have no choice but to digest the sorrow and pain of not having been able to achieve that, especially in front of our fans at Mestalla, in a tough season for the supporters. It’s hard not to have been able to give them the joy they wanted, to get through to the final. LaLiga is still underway, and the objective lies there. We have to fight hard in the league, and all our efforts will be focused on recovering from this blow and showing on Sunday that we are a competitive team that feel the pain of this defeat and want to give our best for our fans.

SADIQ'S CELEBRATION

I didn't see Sadiq's gesture, but I understand that he was eager to score the goal, and when you score an own goal it hurts. He contributed a lot of hard work, and no player wants to score an own goal.

MESSAGE TO THE FANS

The message to the fans is one of gratitude for what they gave us today, and we have to send that message by getting back up and showing on Sunday how much we care about what lies ahead. We have to process this quickly and focus on that very important match for everyone.