10.05.2007 23:55
Rijkaard accepts defeat
Vanessa Forns
Manager Frank Rijkaard has accepted the 4-0 Cup semi-final second leg defeat and has described the result as “one of the hardest I’ve ever experienced”.
Rijkaard was visibly upset when he spoke to reporters at the post match press conference and
insisted: “This is one of the hardest nights I’ve ever experienced. I had the feeling
of being incapable of doing anything. We haven’t got any excuses. We failed to react from the
very first minute and we suffered a lot”.
Self criticism
“We left a very bad impression and I feel very bad, like all the players. We
couldn’t do anything. We were incapable. It’s been a really hard night for all of us
and a very tough blow”. Frank Rijkaard was, as always, gracious in defeat and expressed his
congratulations to the Getafe players: “They deserved the victory because they played a great
match”.
Shared responsibility
However, Rijkaard was also quick to deflect the blame away from his own players. “I
believe we win and we lose all together. As the coach I have to accept my responsibility. We have
to digest this defeat. In the world of sport there are [good and bad] moments and sometimes
it’s complicated and you have to suffer”.
The search for pride
The important thing now is to recover from the great disappointment. “We have to
mentalise ourselves to be able to react. We have to look for the pride that will allow us to keep
on working and finish the season as well as possible”.