Jimenez regrets Zaragoza decline

Manolo Jimenez has reflected on Real Zaragoza’s second half of the season decline, which resulted yesterday in relegation from the Primera Division.

The Aragonese outfit were defeat 3-1 at home by Atletico Madrid to finish 20th in La Liga on the final day of the season.

Even so, their Coach has intimated that he would like to stay, despite speculation that the club will sack him in the summer.

“It is clear that whilst I am needed at Real Zaragoza I will be there. There are many things to improve and this must first serve to open our eyes,” Jimenez told reporters post-match.

“We have to assume responsibility, me first and then others for the professional image we have given.

“Everything broke after the first round of fixtures, there are no excuses for this. I feel sorry because if someone doesn’t deserve this then it is the fans.

“We worked hard but we neither the class nor wisdom to stay up. We have not honoured the club that we represent.

“We have long been tempting fate, the relegation is the saddest moment in my career.

“There have been many factors for the decline. I lost my two key starters, Ivan Obradovic and Franco Zuculini. With them we would have guaranteed survival long before the last game.

“The signings and reinforcements have not arrived because they were not possible, the player who have come did so without experience in the Primera Division and had not played with their teams, but they gave everything.

“The team will feel helplessness and anger, they have been screwed like I have right now.”

Tags Manolo Jimenez
La Liga - Club News