Zaragoza defeated Antequera 1-0, and coach Ibai said after the match that the team deserved the victory.

Zaragoza defeated Antequera 1-0 through a goal by Edu Espiau in stoppage time. Ibai said at the post-match press conference: "As I said, it is very frustrating not to win, but we must celebrate every victory and enjoy the process. The team's attitude is a 11 out of 10. I am very proud of the entire team because they kept going, did not rush, and finally got what I believe the team deserved."

Ibai took responsibility for the team's difficulties in the first half. He said: "I take responsibility. I thought we would find it easier to penetrate through the middle. I was wrong." At halftime, he replaced Escudero with Raúl Pereiro and explained: "It was a tactical decision. Escudero is better at helping in midfield, and Raúl is better on the wing, but I like both of them very much."

When asked why he persisted with a double pivot of Ander and Teruel, Ibai defended his tactical choice: "When we set up a double pivot, the opposing midfielders have to decide whether to press or stay in place so we can find players behind them. I have always believed that filling the middle forces them to choose where they press." He also mentioned the competition for those positions: "We have five midfielders at a very high level. We thought switching the wingers and deploying two strikers would be the best way to win, but we need everyone throughout the entire season."

Ibai also praised several players explicitly. About Marco Sangalli, he said: "You saw his understanding of positional hierarchy, didn't you? He is a player of a different caliber. His attitude is very positive, and his physical data from previous years is also excellent. He is able to do pre-season training alone and can play 45 minutes with the team after three days, constantly running back and forth."

On the performance of center backs Rubén Iranzo and Diego González, Ibai said: "They are both center backs of a different caliber. They have shown what we expected from them: precision, quality, solidity... With Rubén's abilities, he will be worth a lot of money in the future."

What most impressed Ibai was the team's unwavering commitment and the atmosphere in the stadium. He said: "It is incredible to see such fan support in the Primera Federación." On the team's overall performance, he added: "What I appreciate most is the team's perseverance, because they kept going and did not rush. If you tell this team to jump off a bridge, they will jump. It is crazy."

Finally, Ibai reminded everyone that Zaragoza will face significant challenges throughout the season: "I probably watched 60 Primera Federación matches this summer. We analyzed it, and it will be difficult. We are the team that everyone wants to beat, and opponents will come with knives and grit their teeth. It is also difficult to score against deep defensive blocks. Not every weekend will be easy. Look at Spain: they should have won easily, but they won only in extra time."

Übersetzt von KI.

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