‘We were reigning superior until Darwin Núñez was sent off’

José María Gutiérrez, the UD Almeria’s head coach, made it clear in the post-match press conference: ‘Darwin Núñez’s sending-off has marked the game’, a statement that a few minutes earlier had also been expressed by the Ilicitano head coach, José Rojo ‘Pacheta’. The rojiblanco manager added that ‘we were superior until that moment.’ 

José María Gutiérrez considers that the red card shown to Darwin was rigorous, and reflected that ‘there have been two actions out of danger in the Elche’s defensive third and in the midfield... I'm amazed.’

Then, he explained that ‘we did our best but the opponents wore us out and took advantage of playing with eleven players.’ In this sense, he stressed that ‘my side have tried hard and I have nothing to reproach them. Playing so much time with ten players and facing opponents who play football really well is very complicated’. 

In addition, the gaffer pointed out ‘we have lost a player who contributes enormously to the squad.’ He also remembered the complicated situation, in which they faced the game because of the many important absences.