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Gaizka Garitano: “It was our fault we lost the match”

Gaizka Garitano: “It was our fault we lost the match”

The Athletic Club coach reflects on the defeat: “It’s a rotten day, but mentally we can’t get down, we have to go for the three points in Vitoria”

Athletic Club head coach Gaizka Garitano took responsibility for the side’s 0-1 defeat against Cádiz in San Mamés.

The lions lost their first match back in The Cathedral after conceding an own goal in the 56th minute.

“We were very imprecise in possession,” Garitano said in his post-match press conference. “We didn’t have a great day and Cádiz defended very well.

“We struggle against teams that defend deep. They took advantage of the chance they had and they deserved to win.

“It was our fault we lost the match, that’s clear. My responsibility? All of it. The buck stops with me and I am responsible for the team’s defeats.”

About the fixture, Garitano added: “We did well enough in the first half and we finished it quite well.

“But in the second, we tried too hard to go up the middle with the two strikers and we lost a lot of balls, which dented our confidence.

“Afterwards, we played better on the flanks, but the crosses weren’t good and neither was our finishing.”

Despite the tough blow, the manager is already looking to make amends with a victory against Deportivo Alavés on Sunday.

“It’s our fourth match and as professionals we have to be self-critical, but we’ll pick ourselves up from tomorrow onwards,” he added. “We must recover and go for the win in Vitoria on Sunday.”