Paco Jémez: "I'd sign a contract renewal right now"

Rayo Vallecano coach Paco Jémez said after his side’s relegation to Segunda that the club was “in a state of sadness, but also of pride” for the season’s work the team put in and said the Rayo fans that packed the stadium every home game “will always be first division.”

“These are sad moments, but also moments of pride. We’ve been working for 10 months and the feeling I’m left with is that we didn’t do enough to save ourselves. Even so I’m incredibly proud of everybody, including the fans and their nobility; they should never be in Segunda, they will always be first division,” Jémez said in a press conference on Monday, adding that the side’s relegation was “sadder on a personal note than professionally.”

“I’ve been here for a long time and because I know everybody I’m hurting for all of them. After so many years here relationships have become strong,” Jémez said while opening the door to his continued presence in the dugout next season.

“The president has my word as long as things are being done in the way I want them to be. It’s not just about money. It would be very sad if it came to that, but it won’t. I’ve broached the possibility of leading the project as long as things are done correctly, calmly and peacefully in the sporting sense.”

Speaking of the atmosphere in the dressing room after Sporting confirmed their survival with victory over Villarreal, Jémez described “complete silence.”

“I’d never encountered such a heart-breaking silence in a dressing room and these are the things that stay with you. Beyond that you feel the pain personally. The dressing room was a mirror of what any rayista was feeling. We have ended up where we ended up. We got 15 points in the first half of the season and 23 in the second. We did a lot of things well but at the end of the day every team is where they are. It’s not justice or injustice. Our consciences are clear.”