"Real Sociedad have always qualified for Europe at the last minute"

Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil said after losing to Real Madrid that on the one hand he was "happy" with what his team did against the fittest squad in Europe, but on the other hand they lost and "the team goes home upset and angry".
The coach did not want to make excuses in the press conference and made it clear that "there is no such thing as luck". "We played a great game, although it's not enough to kill a giant like Real Madrid.
"It's important how we play. The team arrives, the team generates, but in three quarters of the pitch they struggle and the team is aware of that," added Alguacil.
Real Sociedad could see the gap between themselves and Betis and Valencia in the fight for European places narrowed, although Alguacil wanted to remember that "every time his team has qualified for Europe in recent years it has been at the last minute, and this year will be no different".
He also wanted to send a message of optimism to the fans: "I know that the numbers are not good, but I see the team playing and coaching and, if they continue to do what they have been doing, I am sure that we will achieve our objective."