Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelino was left disappointed after defeat at home to Celta Vigo.
The Galicians picked up all three points thanks to goals from Iago Aspas and Fran Beltrán. Los Rojiblancos stay in eighth place but are now four points away from Villarreal in seventh.
“It was a big disappointment. First of all, we have to apologise to the fans,” Marcelino said in his post-match press conference.
“This stadium and these fans don’t deserve to see what we did today. We were playing against a team that we are nine points above and it looked like they had 30 points more than us. We have to congratulate Celta because they have achieved a fair and well-deserved result.
“Moreover, I think they did it in a very convincing way and they got the better of us. They deserved to win by more goals. The opponent can beat you, but if we lack intensity and understanding like that, it shows we are vulnerable.
“I am very disappointed with the way we played because we’re capable of doing much better. I don’t think we’ve played a game as poor as that since October. It’s a big step backwards and a huge disappointment.”
Marcelino also took his share of responsibility for the defeat: “They won every duel against us. When we didn’t have the ball we got close to them, but we didn’t recover possession. That’s the eighth time we’ve conceded in San Mames in the first ten minutes and that’s unforgivable.
“I’m sure I haven’t done enough to encourage the players and motivate them to play with the intensity and approach the game required. We had two shots on goal and with that poor return it’s impossible to win.”
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