Giráldez rues Celta’s defeat: “We leave empty-handed”

“We leave empty-handed and feeling a little foolish,” Claudio Giráldez said after Celta’s 1-2 defeat to Juventus at Balaídos on Thursday. The coach said the Europa League had begun “cruelly” for his side.

He noted that his team had produced two encouraging performances but seen the results slip away late: in the 89th minute in the previous match and in the 91st against Juventus. Giráldez praised the team’s work and the quality of the opposition, while lamenting that they had earned no points from their first two games. He said Celta had pressed well and defended in a low block for long spells.

The coach also said highly talented teams punish even the smallest mistake. His side had chances to finish the game in the second half, he said, but defended the final action poorly and made a few isolated errors.

Giráldez wants Celta to keep working in the same way, convinced that it will eventually pay off, as it did last season. He said he was building a team able to compete in many different situations and praised Yoel Lago, whose reading of the game, he said, is becoming increasingly intelligent.

The coach said he had “no doubt” Celta would reach the next stage: he believes there is still room to turn things around and recalled that last season also began slowly before the team put together several wins. Giráldez identified Glasgow as the next destination, describing the venue as historic. “The challenge is significant, and we like challenges,” he concluded.