Juan Ignacio Martinez said Real Valladolid can have no excuses following the 2-1 home defeat to Athletic Bilbao.

However, he was at pains to point out during the post-match Press conference that his players had ‘made a great effort’ and ‘at times bossed the game’.

“We created enough and made Athletic do a lot running, although I’m not looking for excuses. We lacked penetration in the final 30 metres of the pitch and their goal five minutes into the second half hurt us very much.

“We played with great uncertainty and also allowed our opponents to put us under pressure. They won the match because of their running and the sacrifices they made, not because they were the better team.”

In addition, Martinez maintained his players lacked ‘efficiency’ and the ‘spark’ needed to round off their approach play, while he also said he was hoping to bring in a central midfielder before the close of the transfer window.

“The market might offer us another alternative,” he suggested.

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