Real Sociedad head coach Imanol showed little hesitance in revealing his frustration with a key member of his defensive ranks on the back of the club’s meeting with Paris Saint-German this evening.
La Real, of course, marked their return to action a short time ago.
Turning attentions back towards matters on the continent, the La Liga outfit made the trip to France, for a showdown with PSG in the first leg of the Champions League Last-16 tie between the clubs.
Sociedad headed into proceedings as understandable underdogs, against the star-studded squad boasted by their hosts.
And, when all was said and done, quality did indeed prove telling, en route to an eventual 2-0 PSG triumph.
Speaking to the media post-match, the aforementioned Imanol, though, was keen to assure that his side remain very much in the tie:
“It’s 2-0, it’s PSG, but I have no doubt that if we compete like we did in the first half we will have a chance,” the Spaniard began, as cited by Mundo Deportivo. “I thank those who have come here. Let’s try in the next game with them. Let’s see if we are able to play the same as today, we score first and dream. We have waited a long time for this.”
And yet, when pressed on the key factors behind La Real’s defeat, the club’s headmaster could not help but admit his anger with one player in particular – Hamari Traoré.
After right-back Traoré temporarily left the field of play owing to a fitness problem early in the 2nd-half, PSG took full advantage, Kylian Mbappé finishing a training ground set-piece routine at the back post.
And Imanol was in no two minds when it comes to the individual at fault, adamant that, if a member of his squad leaves the team with 10 men even momentarily, it should only come in the case of being ‘hospitalised’:
“I can’t understand why a player who has had to leave the field when there is a corner against his team doesn’t end up in the hospital. I don’t understand it. If a player leaves the team with one less, it’s because he has to go to the hospital. Hospital. It is something that I am very clear about.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
