Hidalgo Sport.- Guillermo Almada, technical director of Pachuca, did not hide his disappointment after the 3-0 defeat against Real Madrid in the final of the Intercontinental Cup, held at the Iconic Stadium of Lusail, in Qatar.
Although he recognized the superiority of the merengue team, the Uruguayan strategist regretted the lack of forcefulness of his team, which prevented them from fighting on equal terms with the European giant.
“We had situations that we could not specify, and the effectiveness that they showed was decisive,” Almada commented on the matter. The coach explained that Pachuca managed to generate several opportunities in the first half, but the lack of aim and the finishing ability of the Real Madrid players decided the course of the match.
The goals from Rodrygo, Vinícius and Jude Bellingham, added to an unstoppable offensive display, were too much for the Hidalgo team.
Despite the defeat, Almada did not fail to highlight the quality of the rival and the effort of his team. “They are difficult players to contain from the midfield forward,” said the Uruguayan coach, referring to Real Madrid’s key players such as Rodrygo, Vinícius, Bellingham and star signing Kylian Mbappé; However, Almada made it clear that Pachuca did not shrink in the face of the magnitude of the rival, but rather stood up with football that showed flashes of quality throughout the tournament.
The Uruguayan also took the opportunity to assess the growth of his team, which despite the ups and downs in the local tournament, managed to reach this international final with a squad balanced between youth and experience. Players like Salomón Rondón, Oussama Idrissi and Gustavo Cabral were key for Pachuca to remain competitive, showing outstanding dedication in each of the matches of the competition.
“There are many young people who are having their first international tournaments. It was a spectacular experience. Obviously, we wanted to win the final, but the dedication was outstanding,” said the coach, who also highlighted the learning that his team obtained in the process.
Participation in the Intercontinental Cup was presented as an invaluable training opportunity for the club’s young talents, who demonstrated that they are up to the great international challenges.
With this performance, Almada closes his third year at the helm of Pachuca, a cycle that has been marked by successes and challenges. Under his command, the Tuzo team won important titles such as the Derby of the Americas and the Challenger Cup, managing to consolidate itself in the elite of international football.
