Anselmi hails Elche’s first win over Espanyol

Martín Anselmi assessed Elche’s 1-3 win against Espanyol, the club’s first victory of the season. The coach stressed that, beyond the three points, the context made it especially meaningful: the team played over 85 minutes with a numerical disadvantage after the early sending off of Federico Redondo.

A first win, great timing

Anselmi said the team had been “feeling” this turning point in previous matches, pointing to the 1-1 at San Mamés and the 2-3 versus Real Madrid. In his view, they arrived with confidence and the willingness to prove they could earn that first win, shaped by the hours of work during the week.

He also framed the game as the result of adapting to circumstances. “I wanted Elche to be smart and competitive,” he said, adding that once the match demanded it, the team managed to develop its football and compete properly. He was also happy with how the side handled the pressure of playing with ten men.

Collective approach and refereeing call

On the team performance, Anselmi emphasized that football is a group effort: “I’m proud of everyone… if Roy doesn’t cross, Fer doesn’t score.” He also addressed a refereeing decision—after the third goal involving Cepeda, he argued that there was a clear one-on-one that could have involved Morcillo, but the referee flagged offside. “The referee got it wrong,” he said, arguing that technology could prevent that error.

Finally, the coach highlighted the value of winning before the international break/pausa: doing so, he said, prevents the situation from becoming “bitter” during the 21-day wait for the next match. He also commented on selection matters, including Buonanotte not featuring and Ali Houary being left out of the squad despite the coach’s confidence in him.

Source: MARCA.