Saez to stay with Spain despite Euro 2004 flop
Spanish coach Inaki Saez said he will remain at the helm of the national side despite their first-round exit from Euro 2004, saying he believed he had the players' support to continue.
Spanish coach Inaki Saez said he will remain at the helm of the national side despite their first-round exit from Euro 2004, saying he believed he had the players' support to continue.
"For me, the fundamental thing is to work in a good atmosphere. The squad have put their confidence in me. Spanish football has chosen me as coach and I cannot ask for more than that," Saez told reporters on Tuesday, while acknowledging his "huge disappointment" at Spain's elimination from the finals in Portugal.
"Now I have to make a decision and logically this is to continue," said Saez, whose contract was extended just prior to Euro 2004 through to the 2006 World Cup.
"I realise we did not perform adequately. I am sorry for the squad which was highly enthusiastic and also for the people who followed us, watching on television," said Saez.
"For me the main challenge is to surmount this disappointment. I now have a fresh challenge of preparing the squad to obtain qualification for the 2006 World Cup."
Saez was speaking the day after Spain returned home with the media calling for his head after neighbours Portugal dumped them out in the group phase with a 1-0 success in Lisbon. It was the host nation's first ever competitive win over their neighbour.
Spain, who were pre-tournament favourites to advance with Portugal, lost out to surprise package Greece on goals scored with both nations having taken four points from their three matches.
Portugal recovered from losing to the Greeks to win the group after beating Russia and Spain to go through to a quarter-final meeting with England.