Following FCI Levadia’s narrow 1–0 home win over Georgian champions Iberia 1999, head coach Curro Torres in a post-match interview on Soccenet TV expressed mixed feelings—satisfied with the result, but critical of his team’s overall performance.
“I didn’t like the first half,” Torres admitted in a post-match interview. “Simple mistakes are unacceptable. We need to stay focused and play better. In the second half, we were more confident, and some players took a step forward. With this result, everything is still possible, but the opponent is strong and we face a very difficult 90 minutes away from home.”
Levadia’s back line showed signs of vulnerability, committing multiple errors that Iberia failed to punish. Torres acknowledged the inexperience of some of his players but emphasized the importance of growth through game time.
“Young players need more experience. To develop, they must play in these kinds of matches. We support our players—mistakes are part of football and part of the learning process,” he added.
The return leg is set for July 29 in Tbilisi, and Torres knows his side will need a stronger performance to progress.
“The result isn’t perfect, but it’s very good. Now we need to recover and prepare for a tough trip. If we want to play in the next round, we have to put in a slightly better 90 minutes.”
The officiating also drew criticism from the Spanish coach, who was not impressed by the performance of the refereeing crew from the Faroe Islands.
“This referee team has experience, and provocation is part of football, but I wasn’t happy with the officiating today—sorry. Everyone can make mistakes, but many fouls were called against us,” Torres said candidly.
One notable substitution came late in the match, when veteran defender Rasmus Peetson returned from injury to replace Tanel Tammik in central defense—a rare change in that position so late in the game.
“Peetson is Peetson—he’s our captain, and his experience was vital in those final minutes,” Torres explained.
With a slender lead in hand, Levadia will head to Georgia knowing that a tough test awaits.
Source: Soccernet TV
