Pride accompanies Osasuna's fall
Friday, May 4, 2007
Article summary
CA Osasuna coach José Ángel Ziganda said he "will return to Pamplona with my head held high" after missing out on a final place with defeat at Sevilla FC.
Article body
CA Osasuna coach José Ángel Ziganda said he "will return to Pamplona with my head held high" despite missing out on a UEFA Cup final place with a 2-0 defeat at Sevilla FC.
Dream fades
Leading 1-0 from the first leg of their semi-final, Osasuna found the UEFA Cup holders too hot to handle in Seville where goals from Luis Fabiano and Renato ended their dreams of a place in the Glasgow showcase on 16 May. However, the 40-year-old former Osasuna and Athletic Club Bilbao striker insisted his side had nothing to be ashamed of.
'Head held high'
"This is the furthest we've ever got [in European competition]," he said. "It was a dream to reach the final but we've woken up now. Until the first goal we were relatively comfortable but the goal threw us out of the game. We didn't play well but I will return to Pamplona with my head held high. I have no criticisms of the team and I congratulate them."
'Once in a lifetime'
However, his brave words could not entirely mask the sadness in the Osasuna camp. Defender José Izquierdo said: "These trains only pass you once in a lifetime. The UEFA Cup has been wonderful for us and the crowd but we didn't make it because we didn't play football like we know how - and you pay the price against Sevilla. Now all we have is to fight to avoid relegation in the league."
League safety
Seven points clear of third-bottom RC Celta de Vigo with six games to go, Ziganda's men can feel confident of playing Primera División football next season, but they know another chance of European glory may be a long time in coming. Goalkeeper Ricardo López said: "The team is down because we had a golden chance to do something great in Europe and we let it go."
'A strange feeling'
Midfielder Raúl García added: "We have to realise what it means to have got this far, but to be one step away from a final is hard to face and leaves you with a strange feeling. We hung in there until the first goal, but after that we could have done little more. In any case, you had to be on the pitch to know how difficult it was."
