Oyarzabal refuses to let Bernabéu thrashing derail Real Sociedad's progress
La Real's captain puts brave face on after heavy defeat to Real Madrid, insisting one bad result shouldn't overshadow recent improvements under new boss Matarazzo.
Despite suffering a comprehensive defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu, Mikel Oyarzabal is determined not to let one bad day at the office ruin Real Sociedad’s recent revival under Pellegrino Matarazzo.
Captain’s honest assessment
The Basque skipper didn’t mince his words when analyzing La Real’s performance against the Spanish giants. The visitors struggled to impose themselves, particularly in the first half where their pressing game never got going and their defensive block lacked cohesion.
“A bad game shouldn’t spoil all the good things we’ve been doing,” Oyarzabal insisted post-match, refusing to let the result damage the team’s confidence after their recent upturn in form.
Fatigue factor
While Oyarzabal acknowledged tiredness might have played a part in their below-par showing, he was quick to avoid using it as an excuse:
- La Real came into the fixture having played multiple matches in a condensed schedule
- The demanding Bernabéu atmosphere created additional pressure
- The team had been building momentum under their new manager before this setback
VAR drama
The match featured controversial moments, particularly two penalties awarded to Real Madrid for fouls by Aramburu on Vinícius Júnior. The second decision especially caused frustration among the Txuri-urdin players and staff.
When questioned about the incidents, Oyarzabal remained diplomatic, suggesting that while it appeared Aramburu may have made contact with the ball before the player in the second incident, he would accept the officials’ decision without excessive complaint.
Looking forward
The captain’s message was clear – this result needs to be seen as a blip rather than the beginning of a downward spiral. La Real’s recent performances had shown promising signs under Matarazzo’s guidance, and Oyarzabal is keen for the team to get back to those standards immediately.
For a side with European ambitions, bouncing back quickly will be crucial as they look to climb back up the table in the coming weeks. One bad day in Madrid shouldn’t undo all their good work.