Francisco Conceição, coach of Celta Vigo, has firmly put an end to the controversy that developed after his reaction to the team change in the second half of the match against Juventus, which they won in a comeback 2‑1 on the second day of the UEFA Europa League. In an interview with SportMediaset, the coach specified that he had not had any arguments with the players or the management, explaining that his exit from the field was motivated by practical needs.
According to Conceição, the episode was misunderstood by the press: "I saw that a piece of news came out that wasn't true. I didn't argue with anyone. I went out to go to the bathroom and to change my shirt. Then I went back onto the pitch." The Portuguese added that, during the first half, Celta had not been able to express the technical project tested in training, remaining "always late". In the second half, however, the team demonstrated its ability to execute the strategy necessary for victory, with a more decisive and targeted approach.
The coach underlined the importance of not changing players at half-time unless strictly necessary, highlighting how the clarity of instructions is fundamental to the result. “Sometimes you don't need to change players at half-time, you just need to understand what we needed to do,” he said. Celta, who have shown that they can adapt and have the ability to play effectively, are now preparing for the next match against Lazio, a match that involves a very difficult match.
Conceição concluded the interview by reiterating the need to start again from the second half to face the next match with the same determination. "We did what it took to win the games. Now we have to start again from the second half in view of the match against Lazio which will be very tough," he said. Celta Vigo, with the victory against Juventus, positions itself well in the group stage and aims to consolidate its position in the European competition, while the coach focuses on maintaining the cohesion of the group and on tactical preparation for future challenges.