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Rayo Vallecano manager Inigo Perez praised captain Oscar Valentin for his performance despite playing with a fractured cheekbone. The team secured a 1-0 lead against Strasbourg in their final European fixture of the season.
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Inigo Perez praises Rayo Vallecano captain after Strasbourg win ā āHe played with a fractured cheekboneā
Rayo Vallecano manager Inigo Perez has singled out captain Oscar Valentin for special praise on a special night, as his side played their final European fixture of the season at Vallecas on Thursday night. His side take a 1-0 lead to Strasbourg next week, after a dominant second half performance.
As much as the game itself, the focus was on the occasion for Rayo Vallecano, with an electric buzz around the stadium all night. The Rayo players even addressed the fans before the game. Before the match, Perez had said that there was āa social aspect that sets Rayo apartā from other sides.
āFor me, itās unrepeatable. These are feelings youāll cherish for a lifetime. You create these memories weāve been talking about throughout the year, and itās even harder to repay the debt to the fans. Itās very special, a day that brings a lump to your throat. Youāre the coach, and you have to suppress it, push it down into your intestines, but Iām very happy,ā Perez told the press afterwards.
The first half was fairly even, with Strasbourg finding more space than a slightly clunky Rayo side. Perez admitted that his side were too eager from the first whistle.
āI agree with the analysis. We often have to ignore that excess of emotion. We knew it was going to be there; it was palpable. You could feel the energy in your bones. If you think about what might happen, youāre looking to the future, and we forget about the present. I told them that one of the best antidotes is humor, that they shouldnāt overthink things. Seeing people so unrestrained makes you feel like you canāt fail. But we dealt with it during halftime.ā
In the second, the home side had the chances to take a bigger lead to La Meinau next week.
Inigo Perez praised Oscar Valentin for his exceptional performance while playing with a fractured cheekbone during the match.
Rayo Vallecano won the match 1-0, taking a lead into the second leg of the semi-final against Strasbourg.
Inigo Perez described the atmosphere as electric and highlighted the special social aspect that sets Rayo Vallecano apart from other teams.
The match was significant as it was Rayo Vallecano's final European fixture of the season, creating lasting memories for the players and fans.
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āWhen a team deserves more, like Rayo, and you win 1-0, we should be lamenting the missed opportunity, but thereās a tendency to forget that weāve won a European semi-final. The first half demanded seriousness, we were able to talk at halftime, and the second half was extraordinary. Itās only fair and honest to show ourselves some appreciation and value the victory.ā
So far in the knockout stages, Rayo have won both of their first legs, before losing the second, but getting through on aggregate. Against AEK Athens, Rayo went three goals down, the tie even on aggregate, before Isi Palazon scored the decisive goal. Perez felt the experience was useful in his preparation for the second leg, against a Strasbourg side that overturned a two-goal deficit against Mainz in the previous round.
āItās useful because we hadnāt experienced it before. You learn and take note, although I donāt want to say it wonāt happen again. Theyāre coming off a comeback and they know what scenario they want in the second leg. Both scenarios coincide. The result may be meager, but I think a better result would have propelled us towards what happened in Athens.ā
As it turned out, captain Oscar Valentin had fractured his cheekbone in the first half of the game, but continue playing through the pain. He lived up to his surname, which translates as brave.
āOscarās display of courage deserves recognition. Thatās what this team is all about. We must build ourselves on actions like this. He has a fractured cheekbone, and he tells me heās perfectly fine. He doesnāt complain or make excuses at all. He tells me again at half-time heās fine. He plays the second half flawlessly. Iāve never seen anything like it on a football pitch. Thatās what this team, this dressing room is.ā
Rayo travel to the Coliseum to face Getafe on Sunday afternoon at 16:15 CEST, before turning their attentions to the return leg against Strasbourg next Thursday at 21:00 CEST.