Manager Andoni Iraola has called on his players to deliver an immediate response when they face Crystal Palace on Sunday, following a frustrating week that saw his side suffer back-to-back defeats in domestic and European competition.
After a narrow 1–0 loss to Arsenal in the Premier League last weekend, the squad suffered a 3–2 defeat against Fenerbahçe in the Champions League on Wednesday.
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Facing the prospect of entering the upcoming international break on the back of three consecutive losses, Iraola emphasized the need to secure all three points to maintain squad morale.
Speaking to the press ahead of Sunday’s fixture, Iraola acknowledged how quickly momentum can shift over the course of a week.
“I think that’s the challenge,” Iraola said. “One week ago in this same press conference, we were on a run, everything was in a good place, and we were in a better mood. Now, after two defeats, the mood changes—and it has to be like this. Now we have to react.”
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Acknowledging the difficult test awaiting his team against a stubborn Crystal Palace side, Iraola stressed the importance of maintaining perspective during challenging spells.
“It’s not easy in the moment because when we lose a game, everyone is angry,” Iraola added. “But we have to have some perspective. We know in the process we’ll go up and down. We have to get through these moments.”
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