Rayo Vallecano manager Inigo Perez was visibly emotional following his team’s 1-0 Conference League final defeat to Crystal Palace. Despite the loss, Perez acknowledged a mix of sadness and frustration, highlighting the pain of seeing his players and fans upset.
“These are difficult times for everyone. We just have to get through it however we can,” Perez stated, struggling to find words of consolation. “That’s just how it goes when you lose, especially when you came so close. What breaks you inside is seeing people cry. It absolutely destroys you. You feel that sadness and frustration of defeat, of the explosion of happiness that winning it would have meant, and it leaves you frustrated.”
Despite the outcome, Rayo Vallecano fans demonstrated remarkable support, displaying a banner that read, “The greatest victory, was being with you in defeat,” and actively encouraging their players after the final whistle.
Perez emphasized the fans’ role, saying, “The fans are the driving force behind this team surviving, and behind this dream that we’ve been living in, and they’re the reason that we break down when we went over to them. We normally try to be balanced when we win or lose, but in this situation, it’s impossible to remain in one piece.”
He dismissed the idea that the loss was a missed opportunity to validate their club’s ethos. “We lost a game of football. We didn’t lose an opportunity to show ourselves. It wasn’t a day to show what we’re about, it was a day to celebrate or to cry. The authentic side of ourselves is in the day-to-day stuff. You can come by the neighbourhood, and you can see for yourselves any day you want. That’s where you see what the people are and what Vallecas is made of.”
Perez also expressed pride in his players, fans, and the neighborhood, stating, “Always. That will be eternal. You don’t have words. These are delicate moments to go through. At Rayo there is an acceptance of the suffering, and from there we overcome a lot of problems, even if it’s difficult. I’m proud of the players, the fans, the neighbourhood.”
Regarding the match itself, Perez was gracious in defeat, acknowledging Crystal Palace’s superiority. “It was not the game that imagined, that we all had in our heads. But I prefer to think that it wasn’t down to us, but it was down to them being better. They’re deserved winners.” He noted that while the first half was a cautious affair, Palace’s goal from an isolated play impacted his team. “We went through some very dangerous moments, but we managed to bounce back. It wasn’t brilliant, perhaps, but we shook off that feeling of not quite being ourselves.”
Perez found no fault with his team’s ambition, stating that it’s difficult to improve on the current season and that the players possess more than enough ambition to continue showing it.
When asked about his future, Perez declined to comment, deeming it inappropriate at the moment. He also defended his players, emphasizing the strong bond and mutual respect within the squad. “It’s hard to find a group of players like this one. This group is truly special. They are genuine friends who respect and love one another. They help each other out. They protect and encourage one another. If I have to lose, I’d rather lose alongside these guys.”
