“We didn't know how to be up to the task; we have to accept reality”

Gimenez admitted on Wednesday the team's sadness for the elimination in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals against Barcelona, in which he considered that they lacked “to have started the first half” as they did in the second.

“Thank these people who accompanied us in this Cup. We are as sad as they are. We have to raise our heads and finish the season in the best possible way. To continue,” he said in statements to ‘Movistar’.

“The people were always there when we needed them. We are very grateful from the bottom of our hearts, because we feel them, we need them and they were always up to the task. We apologise for the moments when we didn't know how to be up to the task and convey to them that together, fans, club and players, we are stronger and that's how it should always be,” he remarked.

“I think we should have started the first half the way we started the second half. In the second half we played a great game. It's a shame, because in the first half we didn't find that way of playing to attack, link up, create chances... We conceded a goal, they are very good, they always find the extra man and it was a tough match,” he said of the match.

For him, this end of the season, with almost no options in La Liga and eliminated from the Champions League and the Copa del Rey, is faced “accepting reality, having a rational thought and knowing” that his team is “far away” from the championship lead.

“We are going to try until the end. Then we'll see what position we're in to see if the season has been good or not so good,”said Gimenez.