Sadness for Valencia keeper Alves
Friday, May 2, 2014
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"This is the saddest day I have experienced," Valencia CF keeper Diego Alves told UEFA.com after conceding a last-gasp Sevilla FC goal that snubbed out their semi-final comeback.
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Goalkeeper Diego Alves returned for Valencia CF after several weeks out injured in the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg only to concede a last-gasp Stéphane Mbia header that took Sevilla FC through despite the home side having scored three times to overturn a 2-0 deficit. "It's one of those sad days that teams can have, and we have had to experience it," he reflected.
Diego Alves, Valencia goalkeeper
Today was a sad day. Since I have come here this is the saddest day I have experienced. We must congratulate the players because they've done a spectacular job – we have to be proud with the game we had. But that's football, it's something that happens every five or ten years and today is a sad day. We can't blame anything.
We are a very young team. There are people that are in their first year with the first team, others are now playing successive matches for first time... This is a learning experience for youngsters. It's one of those sad days that teams can have, and we have had to experience it today.
The crowd was with us – they were sensational. We had a very special atmosphere. We did everything to give back to them what they have given us. In the end, we have the blow that we're going home upset and we apologise to them for not being able to go to Turin.
We have done as much as we could. There is nothing to criticise, and we had a good match. We paid for not having scored a goal in the first leg and in the end Sevilla qualify for the final.
Francisco Rufete, Valencia general sporting manager
We had a great match – we achieved a lot of things but we couldn't finish them off. In a minute everything disappeared, and we are very sad because the fans have been great, the players had a great match and the coach ensured that the players and everyone could believe in getting to the final, but this is football and we must move forward.
We have changed the dynamics of our game. This team didn't give up; that's nice. And when you have a bad result like today, you need to stick to your principles and continue building for the future.
