SÁNCHEZ FLORES: "EVERYTHING WE DID WELL WAS UNDONE BY OUR INABILITY TO DEFEND SET PIECES"

Quique Sánchez Flores, our first team head coach, analysed Friday night's defeat against Deportivo Alavés, stating that "when you concede three goals, you don't deserve to win. Everything we did well during the game was undone by our inability to defend set pieces. It is very frustrating to concede goals like these while playing well. The opening 25 minutes were the best I've seen since I arrived, but 25 minutes is not enough."

"There is plenty of time to prepare defensive set ups from dead ball situations, but then you have to act on it. You cannot let the opposition to win the first ball. We have to be more aware of the runners and pick them up. I take responsibility as the coach and we will work hard on the training ground to make sure that this does not happen again. It is a real shame," he continued.

Sánchez Flores also said "without a doubt, if you don't like what you're seeing, you have to change it. If that means making three substitutions then that is what must be done. We responded well in the second half to change the trajectory of the game. But we have a lot to learn and a lot to analyse."

Finally, looking ahead to our Copa del Rey match next week, "every game is important, no matter the competition. We have to organise ourselves to play well for the full 90 minutes and ensure that we achieve the results that we need."