After Celtic and Manchester City, Slovan Bratislava also lost in the third match of the Champions League. After the 0:2 loss to Girona, the coach of the Whites was satisfied with the game and praised the performance of his team.
Photo: MANAURE QUINTERO / AFP / AFP / Profimedia
In the picture, SK Slovan Bratislava coach Vladimír Weiss senior. reacts during the match of the 3rd round of the league phase of the Champions League between FC Girona and ŠK Slovan Bratislava in Girona on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. TASR PHOTO – Martin Baumann *** Local Caption ***
Vladimír Weiss – coach of SK Slovan Bratislava
How would you evaluate Slovan’s third appearance in the Champions League?
We certainly cannot be satisfied with the result, but we were a worthy opponent of Girona. We consciously defended in a deeper block in the first half, where we did an excellent job of covering areas where the home players were dangerous. In particular, the player with number 11 was the best player on the field (Arnaut Danjuma, editor’s note). He set up the first goal despite the fact that we were preparing for it. But I’m also satisfied with the defense, we weren’t very brave going up, where the home team pressed us well. One on one, we didn’t make much headway there. We had a Blackman chance that we didn’t take. We practically scored a goal from a standard situation. We had half chances, Bajrič’s chance at the end, we put the crossbar there. But the home team deservedly won, they were the better team – whether in possession of the ball, or courage and quality going forward. We are learning, today we found out that it is possible to play with such teams in the Champions League. I believe that we will confirm it in the next match with Dinamo Zagreb.
You took turns quite late and the big opportunities came after them. What did you send new players to the field with?
Offensive players Gajdoš, Metsoko, Marcelli went into the game. I had other substitutions planned, I wanted to survive the time around the second goal, we could take a little risk at that time. We scored a goal, it was already 2-0 and that is difficult to play against a well-organized opponent. We showed good moments, good organization of the game, especially in defense. If we opened things up with them at the beginning, we wouldn’t have kept the result like that throughout the match. I am satisfied with the players, not with the result, we lacked a little more courage in the attacking phase, but with the organization of the game, discipline, commitment, OK.
Kenan Bajrič said about the first goal that there was a drop in concentration at the end of the half. Did you perceive it that way too?
I don’t think so. Blackman, who played excellently today, missed half a step in the sprint with that winger. I also told Bajra that when he passes Blackman from the outside, he makes a reverse pass. So it was. We didn’t capture the movement well and he hit it perfectly. They did it excellently. We had a good chance with Blackman, he missed the goal. As he decided in Mitjylland, where he scored the golden goal, he had a similar chance today. Football is played for goals, we didn’t score them, we can’t think of a better result. Girona deservedly won, they have a quality team even though they had injured players. I believe that when Kuco, Robo Mak jumps in, I believe that Vlado will change his decision, we now have room for that, and that we will be stronger.
Perhaps the second goal was also caused by a loss of concentration when Barseghjan knocked a player to the ground.
It wasn’t psyche, it had nothing to do with it. We got the first goal by pressing high and falling with two sixes, they outnumbered us in the middle, they put it one on one and he did it perfectly. The organization of the game was good, the three stoppers played excellently. They had those centered balls – we were careful in this, the concentration was at a good level the whole match. We played the third best team in La Liga, not in some village. We played in Girona, where there are excellent players. It is the best football league in the world, from my point of view. The second goal, Tigran unnecessary foul and free kick, we have to jump higher in the wall, he hit it perfectly. Takač caught the penalty, showed his great quality. We deserved at least a point for that performance. If it was 2:1, I leave with a more satisfied soul. So 2:0, a loss, but I leave with a good feeling that the players did what they had to. Maybe a little bolder from the 70th minute. I also wanted to take a little risk, but a goal was scored at 1:0, it happens.
Girona has the highest number of centers in the Spanish league. You prepared the team for that, because they couldn’t get there for a long time.
They pushed through from the wing area, they also had one header there, we were ready for that. The trio at the back played excellently today – both in the air and positionally. Kašo, Bajro, Kevin, excellent performance. Both Sharani and Blackman. We were good at defending, if we opened it up they would tear us up like paper. Marko did not play in his position, it was not easy against a team that presses well. We had good moments, you can never be satisfied when you lose. I don’t leave angry, nor do we leave disappointed with the performance. We didn’t show an alibi face, we were brave going forward, but we lacked a bit of quality up front.
Source: sportweb.pravda.sk
