Javier Aguirre admitted that Villarreal deserved to win on Thursday, but still rued the mistakes his much-changed Espanyol side made.
Los Pericos had their unbeaten start to the season ended in Week 6’s trip to El Madrigal, thanks to Jeremy Perbet’s first-minute goal setting the hosts on their way to a 2-1 win.
“Losing always hurts, but if you do so like this then a little less,” mused Aguirre post-match.
“If you finish the game alive and the result is deserved, then it tastes a little better. The opponent was better and that’s it.
“Conceding in the first minute? Of course we cannot be happy. Practically out of the dressing room and almost already losing the game with that goal, that was decisive. The team are annoyed because a goal after 30 seconds forces you to change many things.”
The Mexican made eight changes to the team that played Athletic Bilbao earlier in the week.
“With the changes I looked for freshness and to reward those who deserved to play. Clearly that did not work because we did not win and so we must congratulate our opponents.
“Villarreal are in a great run of form and have much offensive power.
“I am pleased with the enthusiasm that we put into the game, but upset because I hate losing and the two goals we conceded were preventable.
“Organisation is a priority in our team and in those two plays we were off guard.”
