Nico Estevez praised Valencia’s players for their effort against Real Madrid and mused on how they did not pick up the result they otherwise deserved.
Los Che put in a spirited display under their interim Coach to equalise twice against Los Blancos, only to fall to a late Jese Rodriguez strike.
“The credit is for the players. They have played a great game, with effort and wear and they are the makers of the game,” Estevez enthused post-match.
“But alas they have not had the reward, for not getting any points, but the feelings are positive.
“[The second Madrid goal] conditions the game because it came after a goal in which we had just equalised. We reacted well, the team has had a good reaction and in set pieces we scored a second.
“It is true that [Ronaldo’s goal] was offside and it conditioned the game. In that way, the scoreline was too much of a punishment.
“During the break we talked about how the plan would not change, we had to stay the same, to stay level with them until the end and that would give us our chances.
“We are not happy with the result, but there has been a nice fellowship with the fans. They always reward the effort and work.”
Estevez is now expected to hand over the role to Juan Antonio Pizzi.
“The people of the club are those with that information and are best placed to give it, but any request made to me I will be happy to oblige.
“Has this been my most important week? It has been a week of great responsibility, but I think the most important week is coming and if you not think this then within two days you are obsolete.
“I have tried to do things in the best possible way, but with me there have been many people who have done things right.”