Kiko Ramírez: «I am not going to let this team sink at any point»
Kiko Ramírez appeared in the press room at the Estadio Cerro del Espino after CD Teruel's defeat to Rayo Majadahonda (2-0) on matchday four of the Primera Federación. The Rojillo coach took responsibility for the two goals conceded from set pieces and sent a message of hard work and unity ahead of the two Aragonese derbies awaiting the team.
The coach did not sugar-coat his analysis. He acknowledged that the team were not good enough in either box and took nothing away from the hosts' win: «I don't want to take any credit away from the home side, who played their game and deservedly won». From there he focused his diagnosis on defensive set pieces, with the first goal coming from a move very similar to the one that decided the match against Real Jaén. «The other day, one lapse; today, two», he summed up.
Kiko Ramírez pointed to himself as the person chiefly responsible. He explained that it is the coach who decides how, when and where each player is positioned in those situations, and that it is therefore up to him to find the solution: «That is why I am the one responsible». The coach said he will review the way the team defends set pieces, because there are several ways of marking and, if the current one is not working, it will have to be changed, or the personnel will. As for the spotlight falling on the bench, he said he is used to it and prepared for it.
At the other end, the Rojillo coach admitted the team deserved «a little bit more» for their chances in the closing stages, but pointed to the mental side to explain the lack of goals: «When a team has the anxiety and the fear of scoring, it is not going to score». «We have to break through that barrier», he added. Asked whether it is a problem of confidence or of the squad, he acknowledged he would like to have more goals in the side and recalled that the club has tried to strengthen its attack.
The coach defended his footballing idea. «My culture does not allow me to defend for 90 minutes», he said, before explaining that after a pre-season in which the team took many risks he has tried to adapt to the division, something which, he admitted, he has not yet achieved. He also underlined why set pieces hurt so much: teams fighting to stay up have fewer chances than those at the top and must make good use of them, so they cannot afford to concede from dead-ball situations. On the tactical side, he explained that in the first half the team caused problems with long balls to their right flank and that a mid-to-low block allowed them to defend Rayo Majadahonda's play through the middle more effectively.
Asked about a refereeing incident in the second half, he refused to look for excuses after a defeat and dismissed it as «one more anecdote».
CD Teruel now face two consecutive matches against the other two Aragonese sides in the group, SD Huesca and Real Zaragoza. Kiko Ramírez described them as important derbies for the region and a reward for the club, although he insisted his preparation does not change depending on the opponent. «We have to keep chipping away», he said, and called for everyone to be very clear about who CD Teruel are and what their goal is: to stay in the Primera Federación for another year, in a league he recalled is very long.
The coach closed his press conference by addressing the fans, to whom he apologised and with whom he shared the pain of the result. His final message was one of commitment: «We will get up and carry on working. We are going to be professionals and I am not going to let this team sink at any point. That is my job».
