Coudet Blasts Alavés After Oviedo Draw: 'Forget the Holidays, Time to Work'
Alavés manager Eduardo 'Chacho' Coudet didn't mince words following his side's disappointing home draw against Oviedo, calling for immediate changes.
A frustrated Eduardo ‘Chacho’ Coudet didn’t hold back after Alavés dropped points at home, demanding his players “forget the holidays” and focus on fixing their performance issues.
‘Contagious Negativity’
The Argentine manager was visibly disappointed with his team’s display, particularly highlighting their uncharacteristic defensive frailty. Coudet’s assessment was brutally honest - describing a performance infected with “negative contagion” that spread throughout the squad.
“We’ve been a solid, rocky team because opponents create very little against us,” Coudet explained, clearly miffed that this match featured more opposition chances than usual.
What’s particularly concerning for the gaffer is that his typically dominant home side looked completely off the boil. The stats might show an even contest, but the eye test revealed an Alavés side lacking their usual intensity and precision.
Changes on the Horizon
Coudet didn’t need to be told twice that something’s gotta give. He acknowledged that criticism is warranted and changes are necessary:
- Tactical tweaks appear likely after the team looked “stretched” when they should have been compact
- Personnel changes could be coming with Coudet suggesting he’ll select “those who are best for the next match”
- A return to basics seems essential after what he described as a performance full of imprecision
The Alavés boss seemed particularly frustrated by their inability to capitalize on opportunities to climb the table, describing it as his biggest source of frustration.
League Position Perspective
Despite the disappointing result, Coudet was quick to provide some context to their current standing. He pointed out that Alavés have more points than at the same stage in the previous two seasons, and a win would have placed them 10th in the table.
The middle of La Liga remains incredibly tight this season with numerous teams separated by just a few points. However, this doesn’t seem to comfort Coudet, who made it crystal clear he’s only interested in moving up the table.
“I want to go upwards,” he stated plainly, now focused on finding solutions rather than dwelling on excuses.
For Alavés fans, the hope will be that this public challenge from their manager sparks an immediate response from the players in their next outing. The holiday period is well and truly over at Mendizorrotza.