Coudet breathes easier as Alavés finally end winless streak against Betis
Alavés boss Eduardo Coudet expresses relief after crucial victory lifts his side out of the relegation zone, ending a near two-month wait for three points.
Alavés finally climb out of the relegation spots with a much-needed win against Real Betis, ending a barren run stretching back to early December. The gaffer’s looking proper chuffed, and who can blame him?
Monkey off their backs
Eduardo Coudet couldn’t hide his relief after watching his Alavés side put in a proper shift against quality opposition. The victory marks their first since December 6th - that’s nearly two months of hurt finally put to bed.
“We needed to win beyond having had good feelings in many matches,” admitted Coudet, whose side have been playing better than their league position suggested for weeks now.
The Argentine was quick to praise his players’ commitment, noting they went after the game from the first whistle to the last against “a rival of great hierarchy” in Betis.
Schedule woes and bad luck
Coudet pointed to the fixture list as part of their recent struggles, with Alavés having faced some top opposition in their last two away trips. Despite this:
- The team has continued working hard
- Coudet remains convinced his squad can play good football
- He believes they shouldn’t be in such a precarious position
- The league table has been “unfair” to them based on performances
Mental strength
What’s particularly impressive is the squad’s mentality despite their difficult run. Coudet emphasized how he sees the players every day and their conviction gives him peace of mind.
“If we continue this way, we’ll be fine,” he stated - the sort of bread and butter confidence that suggests he’s not just putting on a brave face for the cameras.
Benavidez brilliance
The boss reserved special praise for Benavidez, who’s adapted brilliantly to his role. Even more notable is the player’s commitment despite being in a “contractual situation” - in other words, his future at the club remains up in the air, but he’s still giving everything. That’s proper professional, innit?
Fortress Mendizorroza
Looking ahead, Coudet acknowledges they’ve been strong at home but need to start picking up points on their travels. He’s keeping a level head despite the pressure, reminding everyone that survival has always been the club’s main objective.
As he put it himself, “When the season began, I knew permanence was at Mendizorroza” - highlighting the importance of their home form in the battle to avoid the dreaded drop.