Giráldez admits Celta 'got it wrong' in second half collapse
Celta Vigo manager Claudio Giráldez reflects on his side's away defeat, highlighting tactical errors and praising opponents' star performers Oyarzabal and Borja Iglesias.
Celta Vigo’s impressive away form finally hit the buffers as manager Claudio Giráldez offered a candid assessment of where it all went pear-shaped for his side.
First half promise
Despite the defeat, Giráldez was relatively calm when analysing his team’s performance, particularly highlighting their strong opening 45 minutes:
“We had a very good first half against a tough opponent,” he explained, pointing to Celta’s ability to maintain possession and create clear opportunities.
The gaffer seemed particularly pleased with how his lads handled the opposition’s high press, maintaining control and creating chances that on another day might have seen them take the lead.
Where it went wrong
However, Giráldez didn’t shy away from pinpointing the second half collapse. The manager acknowledged several factors contributed to their downfall:
- Physical fatigue from Thursday’s match affecting defensive transitions
- Tactical errors after going a man up, with players neglecting defensive responsibilities
- Difficult pitch conditions causing problems (including Ilaix’s unfortunate slip)
- His own decision to introduce too many attacking players, leaving the team exposed
“In the second half we got it wrong, beyond just not being clinical,” Giráldez admitted, showing refreshing honesty about both player and managerial mistakes.
Defensive lapses
The manager was particularly frustrated with the nature of the goals conceded:
“The first two came from losses of possession. The first is uncontrollable with the player slipping on the poor pitch. The second makes no sense - Mingueza’s pass inside and Sotelo’s decision left us exposed.”
Praise for opponents
In a touch of class, Giráldez reserved special praise for opposition standouts Mikel Oyarzabal and Borja Iglesias.
“I told [Oyarzabal] he put on an exhibition. For me, he had a brilliant match,” the Celta boss revealed, before also highlighting Borja Iglesias’s goalscoring form this season.
Giráldez even suggested both players should be in contention for Spain’s World Cup squad, noting: “We have very good forwards in this country… Borja and Mikel are making it difficult for the others.”
Looking ahead
Despite this setback, Giráldez remained philosophical, reminding everyone this was only Celta’s second away defeat in La Liga this season. The manager’s focus now turns to bouncing back and maintaining the positive trajectory they’ve established so far.