Real Oviedo forward, José Verdú Nicolás "Toché", appeared in the Press Room this morning following the team's training session at El Requexón.
The Murcia-born player was asked about the mood in the locker room in Leon after losing the great opportunity to make it into the Play Off for promotion. He indicated that "we are disappointed. We knew that it was a huge opportunity to make it in. We couldn't, or we didn't know how to win. It's a sad atmosphere. We've been going all year, and in the last moments we didn't give what was expected."
With respect to the explanation that Toché has found, he said, "I can't find one. Before the match we have it all very clear, the plays clear, we know what we have to do, but being on the field, it's something else entirely. In the most important moments, the team have not been what was expected, like the other day which was a final. Playing away games is difficult for everyone, but we have struggled with it for a long time. We have become irregular again, and in the end, the points we have are what they are. There's no reason to keep thinking it over. We must analyse what we have done badly to try to prevent it from happening again."
Regarding what he believes the fans feel, the forward understands that "I imagine they feel very disappointed. We are going to win on Saturday, we know that there is a small chance, and we don't want to be left looking foolish giving the results and then not winning. We have tried. There have been many times that we haven't been able to and we haven't given more. The feeling is very similar to things we've already lived. Most of the year, we have been in; it's a bad ending. The work of several Matchdays is thrown out. We had the hope of getting into the Play Off, but a feeling of disappointment is what we have today."
In regard to the results that were being given during the match at Reino de León, Toché did recognize that "I looked at it during halftime; even a tie would have been welcome, but the only calculations we did included winning the three last matches. That would have ensured that we would make it to the Play Off. We didn't play a good match, but even so we had opportunities and the ball didn't want to go in. We dedicated ourselves to make it a tie, and the reality is that we couldn't. It causes a lot of frustration. I don't believe that we have the best line up or great stars. We are a team of honest workers. We have won several games because of our intensity and desire, but none was overwhelming. If we are at one hundred percent, we are able to win against anyone, but when we're not, anyone can beat us. And that's how it's been."
Finally, when asked about Saturday's game against SD Huesca, the forward commented that "the people will be like us, with that disappointment and that little hope that we have the smallest chance. Each one will express the feeling the season has given them. I believe that it hasn't been a bad year, but it could have been better," he concluded.
