“This group of players deserved it, like Raúl García, my brother… They have lost many finals…, it has been very hard work. See you on the barge,” said an exultant Nico Williams, chosen as the best player “I hope people enjoy it like me, who can’t even walk. I’ve emptied myself, like everyone else,” he said.
“This is incredible. We have made history. The team has worked. The fans are always with us and they deserve it, like our coach. I have dreamed of this for a long time. I do everything for my friends and my family. I am super happy “It’s the club of my life. Last year I missed two very clear chances to get to the final,” he recalled in reference to the semifinal against Osasuna.
Dani Rodríguez was the first Mallorca player to speak after the defeat: “Congratulations must be given to Athletic and its people, who had been waiting for it for many years. I am moved because I am very proud of my teammates and the people who have traveled. “It was a dream to lift this Cup and we have tried until the end.”
And he added: “We knew that they were going to demand a lot from us, because they are very physical, but everyone’s effort has been impressive. We have to be proud, although we have no consolation.”
Ernesto Valverde celebrated the victory in a calm manner: “This is incredible; this title has no comparison with any other. You just have to see how the field was, what this means for the fans, the years we had been looking for it… In the end, on penalties, where they are specialists, we have achieved this victory.
Valverde analyzed the match like this: “In the first half we suffered because they played long balls, with a lot of dispute, they are strong in individual duels. As things progressed we shook off that way of playing. We knew that if the match was long “We are a team that runs a lot and we would have options. Until the first half hour we had a bad time.”
And he continued: “In the second half we already had the idea of risking everything. The goal made us go forward. We could have scored the second, but we were exposed and they had their options.”
Javier Aguirre showed his regret for the defeat: “We have experienced the cruelty of a final. It happened to Real Sociedad not long ago with penalties. It’s a coin toss and today it fell tails. I have nothing to reproach the players. “We took Athletic to 120 minutes, a team that had beaten us the last time. We played a decent game. I don’t have the face to scold them. It will be a long night, Real Madrid is coming on Saturday…”
He then explained why Abdón Prats did not play: “He deserved to play, he is the essence of Mallorca, but circumstances forced me not to give him minutes. He is a professional and he fits it in and accepts it. He and the other 23 put the team ahead. the individual,” he said.