Giráldez slams Celta's first-half showing: 'We didn't come out to play'
Celta Vigo boss Claudio Giráldez didn't mince words after his side's lacklustre performance, admitting they deserved just a point from a game of two halves.
Celta Vigo manager Claudio Giráldez has delivered a brutally honest assessment of his team’s performance, particularly lambasting their first-half showing while acknowledging a much-improved second period.
First-half nightmare
The Galician gaffer was in no mood to sugar-coat things after watching his side struggle to get going in the opening 45 minutes. Giráldez was particularly scathing about their mental application and tactical execution.
“In the first half we didn’t come out to play,” admitted the clearly frustrated boss, who felt his team were lacking across multiple departments - technically, tactically and mentally.
The only positive he could muster from the opening period was their competitiveness in set-piece situations, which speaks volumes about how poor the rest of their performance must have been. Bit of a mare, if we’re being honest.
Second-half improvement
Things looked considerably better after the interval, with Giráldez describing the second half as “a monologue” from his team. Despite dominating possession and creating more opportunities, they lacked the cutting edge needed to find the back of the onion bag.
The improvements were clear to see:
- Better ball circulation
- Improved positioning between the lines
- More effective wide play
- Increased presence in the opposition box
- Prevented counter-attacks effectively
Giráldez revealed he’d tried to make tactical adjustments at half-time while also motivating his players to increase their intensity in pressing and possession. However, he shouldered some of the blame, admitting: “We made mistakes in how we communicated it.”
Transfer window jitters
With the January transfer window coming to a close, Giráldez expressed his eagerness for it to end, perhaps hinting at the disruption it causes to squad harmony and planning.
When asked about rumours linking Celta with Lazio’s Uruguayan midfielder Matías Vecino, the manager was predictably cagey but acknowledged they’ve lost two players in midfield positions. He mentioned that Fer López provides versatility across several positions while suggesting they remain open to interesting market opportunities.
One thing’s crystal clear though - the gaffer will be over the moon when the transfer circus finally packs up its tent and leaves town.