Ignacio Quereda, coach of Spain’s women’s football team assured after arriing back from Canada that he is not going to resign after his side crashed out at the group stage of the Canada World Cup.
"I’m not going to stand down. If I had to prepare for the tournament again, I’d do it in the same way. We just lacked friendlies prior to the competition and were let down after Rumania and Bulgaria pulled out of planned matches. Our elimination can’t be blamed on not playing two friendly games", he added at Terminal 2 of Madrid’s, Barajas-Adolfo Suárez airport.
After being knocked out all 23 players in the Spanish squad signed a communique complaining about pre-competition preparation and demanding “a change”.
"I’ve nothing to say, you should speak to the squad. I’ve not generated this problem, I’m surprised and hurt by the communique as I don’t feel that it’s the case", added the coach.
"The Federation has nothing to do with this matter. The responsibility is totally mine and I assume all the consequences as I’m the one who designed the preparation schedule. If there is any problem in the planning then it lies with me, not with the Federation or Angel María Villar", he pointed out.
Quereda revealed that he had spoken with the president of the Spanish Football Federation and that Villar, was as "concerned and surprised" as I was with the communique.
"The World Cup was not a disaster but we failed to meet tour objectives. I’m disappointed but with a bitter-sweet taste as in certain games we controlled the game but failed to capitalize on our chances. I’ve no complaints about the team’s application”, he concluded.