Rioja: "This has to serve as a lesson"

Luis Rioja expressed his feelings on a tough defeat at home to Real Oviedo, speaking to VCF Media.

A TOUGH DEFEAT

“It was a game in which we weren't very fluid with the ball, but things looked very good for us with the 1-0 lead. We managed to maintain our composure, even though it wasn't our best game. They got the equaliser from a very unfortunate move, with a couple of rebounds inside the box. Then, in our eagerness to take a step forward and get back in front, we exposed ourselves a lot and they made it 2-1 off a somewhat awkward ball -again with a couple of rebounds. We're very hurt, because I think the fans deserved this victory. We tried, but it wasn't our best game.”

A MISSED OPPORTUNITY

“Despite the fact that we weren't very fluid, I didn't see the scoreline being in danger either; there wasn't a feeling of being overwhelmed by a team that push you when they're losing. There were two unfortunate moments. In the end, when the score is tight, you risk an equaliser in an isolated move. We weren't able to close out the game; we didn't take that step forward to make it 2-0, and we paid for it. We have to be a team that, when we take the lead, keep trying to do what we did well before. I think we scored the goal and took a step back, and we paid for it. This is a very big blow for both the fans and us, but it has to serve as a lesson for the future. We can't waste these games and lose these kinds of points at a stadium like Mestalla.”

KEEPING FIGHTING

“We're not going to stop fighting and trying. I think the team are giving our all, and that reassures me. But today we're very hurt and we have to get through this. This result hurt us a lot, and we have to overcome it, be strong, keep a cool head, and go to Girona to try to get the three points and fight for the match in the best possible condition.”