Olympia from Pedro Troglio he stumbled again in a CONCACAF semifinal against a Tico team, it had happened to him in 2019 with Saprissa and now in 2021 with Alajuelense which left him empty handed beating him on penalties with 5-4 after drawing without goals in 90 minutes.
The Olympic coach was sad about the elimination, but far from claiming any of his players, he highlighted the physical sacrifice made in the last two months, where they played 19 games in 58 days, according to his number.
See. THESE WERE THE CRIMINALS WHO LEFT OLYMPIA
Troglio also commented on how they received the news from footballers Javier Portillo and Edrick menjivar which tested positive in a coronavirus PCR test that automatically removed them from the game.
What did he say to the boys after they were eliminated?
I thanked them for what they did. Today we end with match 19 and they made an impressive effort, I have nothing to blame. They played a good game, they deserved much more; I went to penalties and I didn’t have the chance (to win), but I made a sacrifice playing every three days and facing teams that rest, wait for us and receive us tired, I take my hat off to these guys.
Getting penalties the right thing or do you think they deserve more?
I feel I deserved more. We generated the best situations, we had more of the ball considering that it is a team that comes from rest, but the merits do not matter, you have to score goals and on penalties we were unlucky to miss one.
What was left in the end despite the defeat?
The attitude of the way we faced each other, the pressure on the whole court, the determination with which they did it. I had problems that, an hour before coming to the stadium, I found out that the other two boys (Samuel Córdoba and Ever Alvarado) could not play, we were full of things that disturbed the idea, I know deeply that we deserved to be in the final .
Did the situation of the players who tested positive influence the mood?
I studied on Monday and today at breakfast I found out that there are two positive aspects, unfortunately they didn’t tell us that those who were in contact with them couldn’t play, we lacked five players, they shouldn’t have played, but it’s done and here we are.
How is Harold Fonseca, did you manage to talk to him?
I have nothing to say, I went to hug him, he is a great penalty, we always do it in training and he is one of those who do it best, I asked him and he was determined and had the misfortune of to fail, there is no saying, rather than to embrace and cheer him up because he played a good game.
What values does this group leave you in the face of what follows?
That I was up to the Champions League, the local league and this tournament, we leave empty-handed, deserving something else, but I keep what they gave and being the only club in the world that has played so much in two months, there were 19 games in 58 days, it’s crazy. I’m leaving happy, I wish I could be a champion, but now I’m going to stand tall.
What is your analysis 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 we noticed here is the good condition of the playing fields and that transmits a faster game and we come from the hard field, it feels clear , but that’s what I noticed.