Manzano apologizes to fans after humiliating home defeat to bottom of league club Recreativo

Real Mallorca twice surrendered the lead to Recreativo in an entertaining Primera Liga tie at Son Moix.

Mallorca defender David Navarro was in the starting line-up after fully recovering from last week’s injury and gave the home side the lead after only 16 minutes with a well-taken header from Juan Arango’s pinpoint freekick.

Recreativo soon hit back with Marco Ruben who latched on to Javier Camunas’ through-ball and slid a low shot under the body of German Lux to level the scores nine minutes later.

Jose Manuel Jurado restored Mallorca’s lead on 35 minutes, but the Huelva team equalised for a second time just before the break thanks to Adrian Colunga.

Javi Fuego scored the winner eight minutes after the break with a weak 30 yard freekick which somehow managed to get past Lux, who the jeering home fans clearly thought could have done better.

The Real Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano sensed the displeasure of the home fans at the final whistle and felt the need to apologise for the defeat.

“We must apologize for the result, but they (the fans) know we are going to fight to the end so that Mallorca can continue another year in the Primera Liga.

“I am going away with a bad taste in the mouth. It’s not a nice time. This game was very important for us not to get further into trouble in the table, and we did not know how to turn it around.

“We need to lift ourselves. The season hasn’t finished, the team is having a bad run of form and we need to change it.”

He added: “I’m the main person responsible for the team and the results, the players are doing all they can to get good results. We wanted to do it, but we couldn’t.”

Real Mallorca’s loss leaves them in 17th position in the table and Recreativo’s first league win in 12 matches sees them move off of the bottom after Osasuna could only draw 3-3 with Valladolid. (DM)