Juan Ignacio Martinez did not criticise his Levante players after a 3-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano, insisting that the result was ‘a harsh punishment’.
The Europa League side fell to the resounding scoreline on Thursday evening thanks to goals from Nacho, Piti and Franco Vazquez from the hour mark of the game onwards.
“I am content, because Rayo’s stadium is difficult to play at, so it is normal that things have not gone our way, the Vallecas is a fast-paced field,” admitted JIM to reporters.
“The match was controlled, I was happy about that, but we have fallen two goals behind before we could react and so it cost us a lot in then going up against a team like Rayo.
“I do not think any of my players were on vacation early, though. It is a game that was controlled after the second goal and it suited them because I do not believe that they had excessive ambition.
“Rayo has won because they did things right at peak times, and that has been a harsh punishment.”
