Matarazzo left gutted as Real Sociedad's 18 shots fail to break Atlético resistance
New Real Sociedad boss Pellegrino Matarazzo believes his side deserved all three points after controlling the game and creating numerous chances against Atlético Madrid.
Real Sociedad’s new gaffer Pellegrino Matarazzo reckons his lads were robbed of a victory against Atlético Madrid despite dominating proceedings and firing off 18 shots at goal.
Frustrated but proud
The italo-American coach couldn’t hide his disappointment after watching his team create chance after chance without finding the winner. La Real showed plenty of promise in what was a proper baptism of fire for the new boss, but ultimately had to settle for a point.
“I’m very happy with the boys’ behavior,” Matarazzo explained, clearly impressed with how his team executed his tactical plan against one of Spain’s heavyweights.
The stats tell a story of dominance that didn’t translate to the scoreboard:
- 18 shots at goal
- Control during most phases of play
- Several clear-cut chances including a late Soler effort that “normally goes in”
Points over performance
Despite the encouraging display, Matarazzo knows that moral victories don’t pay the bills in La Liga. The new gaffer acknowledged that while the performance was positive, it’s points that matter most right now.
He was clear that his team needs to be more clinical: “We need to defend and attack better, we need more points.”
Tactical decisions
Interestingly, Matarazzo was quizzed about his reluctance to make substitutions earlier in the match, especially compared to Simeone who shuffled his pack much sooner. The coach stood by his decisions, explaining that he felt his starting eleven were performing well enough to warrant staying on the pitch.
When asked about sticking with familiar faces in his lineup, he insisted he’s “open to radical change if necessary” but his selections were based on what he’d observed in training and previous matches.
Praise for the atmosphere
The new boss also took a moment to appreciate the Anoeta faithful, confessing that while he’s usually laser-focused during matches, he did step back briefly to soak in the “very positive energy” from the stands.
He was particularly moved by the fans’ goal celebration, describing it as “something very special” – a promising sign of the connection he hopes to build with the Txuri-urdin supporters.
Now the challenge for Matarazzo is to turn these promising performances into bread and butter points as he looks to make his mark in San Sebastián.