Paco Jemez tore into his “generous and wimpish” Rayo Vallecano side after they succumbed 2-1 at home to relegation rivals Malaga on Sunday.
Los Vallecanos are currently in freefall as Duje Cop’s late goal condemned them to a third successive defeat in La Liga, a run of results which has seen them fall into the bottom three, and the Coach launched a scathing attack on his team’s perceived lack of desire in the second half.
“I thought we were quite good in the first half, but in the second we had clear chances to score and we didn’t take them,” he said after the game.
“When you’re generous and wimpish, you lose. The team weren’t brave, were pushed around and lacked courage to continue playing like they did in the first half.
"We can’t exchange blows with just about anyone. We’re unable to be consistent.
“We played the second half differently to how we needed to.
“This side create a lot of chances, but that’s not what worries me. Rather, it’s the mentality of the team in the second half.
“I saw a team with a great fear of losing. We must change and start doing what we’d usually do.
“We might as well stay at home if we play with fear. I don’t mind that we failed to score the equaliser, but I’m concerned that we failed to meet the demands of the game.
“Now is the time to get our heads down. The way forward is the first half.
“We have to recompose ourselves and compete, otherwise we might as well say goodbye and go home.”
