In a key match in La Liga, Celta defeated Real Madrid 1-2 at home. After the match, Celta manager Hiraldez attended the press conference and gave an in-depth analysis and summary of the match.
Commenting on the players' performances, Hiraldez said, "I am proud of the high level of consistency that the team has shown in every weekend's matches. No matter who the opponent was, we were able to play the protagonist in the game and take the initiative to control the tempo of the game. This proves that we are on the right path." However, he also noted that the team needs to tweak certain details, especially in the transition phase of the game and in the mid-to-low defense, in order to avoid being exploited by opponents on counterattacks.
Commenting on the chances created in the game and the lack of luck, Hiraldez said, "We created a lot of chances to score, but luck didn't seem to be on our side. However, we must continue to persevere and maintain our current style of play and spirit. I'm satisfied with the team's overall performance, although we still have a lot of room for improvement."
Speaking about whether Real Madrid's tactical system surprised him, Hiraldez said, "They played almost even with us. They put Chouamene in a three-at-the-back formation and tried to leave themselves some space in midfield. We had some difficulties moving the ball around and the first goal we conceded stemmed from that. But we made good adjustments in defense and managed to reduce the threat they posed to us, even though we couldn't completely suppress their three backs out of the ball."
On whether the difference in the scoreline was simply due to a difference in strength, Hiraldez believes, "The key is still the rhythm of the offense. In the first half we attacked too fast and once they defended properly we needed to be more patient. We also had to be more precise with some simple passes. We have a lot of young players and they need to adapt to the environment. And Real Madrid is clearly top notch in terms of attacking finishes."
On the defensive performance, Hiraldez expressed his satisfaction, "We played well in low defense, especially against a strong team like Real Madrid. We stayed patient and waited for the opportunity to counterattack." But he also mentioned the impact of Borja and Aspas' absence on the team.
Finally, talking about the key to beating Real Madrid, Hiraldez said, "We know they like to press and it's hard for the wingers to get back in time. We needed to find Borja to break that press and react quickly when defending against their three defenders out of position."
