He Mallorca hit the table this Tuesday by beating Real Sociedad in the penalty shootout (5-4) to keep the ticket for the Copa del Rey final, to which Mexican coach Javier Aguirre revealed that they had not prepared for that scenario.
After an intense 1-1 in regulation time and then in extra time, it was time for the penalty shootout that the Balearic team executed perfectly from the first to the last, taken by Darder and which ended up giving him the long-awaited pass. to the decisive instance.
In the press conference after the match played at the Reale Arena, “Vasco” Aguirre commented that during their preparation for the second leg of the semifinals against Real Sociedad they had not prepared for this instance and highlighted the concentration of his players to execute it.
“I don’t know if you’re going to believe it or not, but we didn’t practice penalties. We had written it down in our day-to-day program, but for various reasons we did not take penalties, so that scenario was not contemplated, but when you ask and everyone wants to collect, you know that things are going well.”he assured.
The experienced Mexican coach, who already knows what it is to direct a Copa del Rey final, after doing so with Osasuna in the 2004-2005 season, also highlighted the mettle of his players despite not having the experience of having played instances like the one they disputed this Tuesday.
“We are not used to playing finals. In the locker room there are more players with relegations than with titles. We didn’t have the pressure to get into the final, maybe La Real did and that could have also influenced the result.”he assured Javier Aguirre as reported by the EFE news agency.
Darder, the “chosen one”
Mallorca’s classification to the final of the Copa del Rey was defined after Darder took the Balearic team’s fifth and final penalty. The Spanish midfielder revealed that it was at the request of Javier Aguirre that he took the ball for the decisive shot.
“It was the coach who told me to put myself last. This season has not been entirely easy, there have been quite a few things against us. They said that he was predestined, that it was the day and they were right.”assured Darder, who with a charge placed at the left post put the final 5-4 for Mallorca.
“I usually throw it crosswise, but I saw that Remiro threw himself there all the time and I had to change. Happier, impossible”highlighted the player about the decision he made to take the shot and deceive the Real Sociedad goalkeeper.
Javier Aguirre was happy for the player. “He sacrificed many things to return to Mallorca and today destiny put him there and he deserves it. He has done an act of professionalism and today he received the award from him”declared the Mexican coach.
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