Giráldez believes Celta should have beaten Union Saint-Gilloise

“The fairest outcome would have been for us to win,” Giráldez said after Celta’s 2-1 defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League. The coach felt the result was unjust for his side and held up the display as a model to follow if they are to keep their hopes of reaching the next phase alive.

Giráldez ranked the match among Celta’s best performances of the season, alongside the game against Celtic. “We played a very good match,” he said, noting that his team had been competing well in Europe. He regrets, however, that the results have not reflected what Celta have deserved in his view. His point was clear: good football is not enough if chances are not finished and decisive moments are not taken. The coach was particularly pleased with the second half.

He also described the contest as “a very enjoyable match, with two very attacking teams”. The missed chances added to his frustration and strengthened his belief that Celta ought to have won. That assessment does not alter the score, but it captures the contrast between a performance he found convincing and a defeat that brought no reward.

The immediate challenge is to reproduce that level in the league. “We have to maintain in the league the level we are showing in Europe,” Giráldez stressed. He does not want to get caught up in calculations and is focused on the next match against Bournemouth.

The coach sounded optimistic about what lies ahead, while making his prediction conditional on his squad’s work: if they continue as they did in this match, he believes Celta will find a win and qualify for the next round without doubt. He also acknowledged that the schedule had not been particularly easy. In his view, that level of difficulty should strengthen the team and show them that they can compete with the best sides in the competition.