Riki has jumped to the defence of his Coach Jose Luis Oltra for making a substitution that critics have said is the reason Deportivo lost at the weekend.
Depor had pulled back level with opponents Real Betis at the weekend to a 2-2 scoreline, before Oltra removed a centre-back for a striker.
The Coach reflected afterwards that he had intended midfielder Alex Bergantinos to work between midfield and defence, with the extra forward then intended to help Depor seal what would have been only a third League win of the season.
However, the move backfired, Betis scored the third goal and Oltra faced criticism afterwards for an over-attacking substitution.
“We were all aware that we had done the hardest part and that the game was headed for a third goal. It was brave of the Coach, he went for the game with his change and maybe that conditioned the side’s imbalance, but the feeling was more for a 3-2 than a 2-3 and it is was action to encourage us to go for the third goal,” stated Riki today, in defence of his boss.
“These are in-game situations, coaching decisions made for the good of the team and I think we should be with him to the death. He deserves credit.”
Even for striker Riki, though, where the team must improve in order to start winning again is clear.
“Against Osasuna and Mallorca we kept a clean sheet and it guarantees at least a draw, and it is what we have to bring together as a team to be stronger.
“We will not always concede three goals, we will hopefully improve, these are games that we need to be better in at a team level.”
