Philippe Montanier conceded that Real Sociedad deservedly lost to Getafe on Monday night, but urged them to keep going in the race for fourth.
La Real fell to a 2-1 defeat in Madrid to conclude Week 34, with Carlos Vela’s early strike cancelled out by Pedro Leon and Abdel Barrada.
“We must congratulate Getafe. They played a good game, unlike us,” reflected Montanier afterwards.
“We deserved the defeat, admittedly without problems. Clearly we failed in both defensive, technical aspects and in our collective game.
“It is always difficult to analyse after a bad game. We trained properly during the week, as usual, and it does not explain the game tonight.
“We started the game well, with Vela’s [fourth minute] goal. Maybe too well, because we unconsciously relaxed.
“That was definitive, because we ran out of opportunities until the very end of the game. But then it was too late.”
The result has invited Valencia back into the race for the fourth and final Champions League spot now, with Los Che sitting two points back in fifth.
“Now the most important thing is to remove this from our heads and think about the next game [versus Granada next Monday] which will be very important.
“Qualifying for the Champions League will be the result of our game, so we have to improve, do our best and that’s the way to get into the Champions League.”
