Paquito: "We have been the team that we know we can be"

Paquito Ortiz sat in the press room at the Estadio Gran Canaria following the win against Betis and made it clear that "the merit lies with the players, they know there are times when they need to step up a gear and they have done just that". Regarding the sensations he felt about tonight’s game, he said "the team has been liberated, the players needed to play well and enjoy themselves out there on the pitch" and he recognised the great effort this took. "Mentally we were really strong, the effort has taken its toll, but we carried on right until the end". Regarding his position over the last three intense days, Paquito stated that "my main concern was for the team to push on and carry on doing the things they were doing right", while he also referred to the difficulties he had in making decisions as a trainer, "it was really tough to have to leave players out, but the whole squad’s attitude has been praiseworthy indeed". As for the positives to have come out of tonight’s game, he was clear, saying "it is important to keep a clean sheet, that gives us great confidence". The joy felt by Paquito as trainer, in his words, was "going back into the dressing room and seeing the lads tired out but happy means they have done a good job”.Ç