The Olympia of Pedro Troglio He stumbled again in a Concacaf League semi-final against a Tico team, it happened to him in 2019 with Saprissa and now in 2021 with Alajuelense who left him empty-handed by beating him on penalties 5-4 after a draw in 90 minutes with no goals.
The Olympic coach was saddened by the elimination, but far from claiming any of his players, he has emphasized the physical sacrifice made over the past two months, in which they have played 19 games in 58 days according to his count.
See. THESE WERE THE CRIMINAL RIGHTS THAT LEFT THE OLIMPIA
Troglio also commented on how they received the news from footballers Javier Portillo and Edrick menjivar who tested positive in a PCR test for coronavirus that automatically removed them from the game.
What did he say to the boys after they were taken out?
I thanked them for what they did. We finish today with match 19 and they have made an impressive effort, I have nothing to blame. They played a good game, they earned a lot more; We went to penalties and we didn’t have the chance (to win), but we spent a sacrifice playing every three days and facing teams resting, waiting and receiving us tired, I take my hat off to these guys.
Was it fairest to impose sanctions or do you think they deserved more?
I feel like we deserved more. We generated the best situations, we had more ball bearing in mind that it is a team coming out of half time, but the earnings don’t count, you have to score the goals and on penalties we were unlucky to get one to miss.
What is ultimately left despite the defeat?
The attitude of how we faced it, the pressure on the entire court, the determination with which they did it. We had problems finding out an hour before we got to the stadium that the other two guys (Samuel Córdoba and Ever Alvarado) couldn’t play, we filled up with things that disrupted the idea, I know deep down that we deserved it to be in the final.
Has the situation of the positively tested players influenced the mood?
We did the studies on Monday and today we found out at breakfast that there are two positives, unfortunately they didn’t tell us that those who had been in contact with them couldn’t play, we missed five players, it shouldn’t have played but it was done and here we are.
How’s Harold Fonseca, were you able to talk to him?
Got nothing to say I went to hug him he’s a great penalty taker we always do it in practice and he’s one of those who does the best we asked him and he was determined and he had the misfortune to To fail, there’s nothing to say, instead of hugging him and cheer him up for playing a good game.
What values does this group leave you behind in seeing things to come?
That we have been at the height of the Champions League, the local league and this tournament, we are leaving empty handed and deserved something else, but I keep what they gave and am the only club in the world that has played so much in two months, there have been 19 games in 58 days, it’s crazy. I’m going happy, I would have liked to be champion, but now I’m going to stand tall.
What analysis do you make of Tico and Honduran football?
There is an interesting parity, a similar level, they are two of the best teams in Central America, but what I have noticed here is the good condition of the playing fields and that gives a faster game and we come from tough terrain, it feels obvious, but it’s what struck me.