Every word Inigo Calderon said on Bristol Rovers' relegation, his future, mistakes and more

A full transcript of Inigo Calderon’s final pre-match press conference of the season ahead of the trip to Blackpool with relegation officially confirmedSport

Daniel Hargraves Bristol Rovers reporter

17:00, 02 May 2025

It is unclear whether Bristol Rovers’ trip to Blackpool will be Inigo Calderon’s last as head coach(Image: Cody Froggatt/PA Wire)

Inigo Calderon conducted his final pre-match press conference of the season on Wednesday afternoon. Although the Bristol Rovers head coach was in place to speak about the upcoming trip to Blackpool on Saturday, the club’s relegation was a far more pressing matter having been officially confirmed the night before.

Naturally, with so much uncertainty around the club at the moment, Calderon’s own future was discussed while the Spaniard also reflected on his four months in charge so far.

It feels odd that there is still a match to be played with all that is going on, but here is a full transcript of the Gas boss’ press conference…

First of all, are you able just to put into words the emotions of the past few days from going up to the Thatchers Terrace at full-time on Saturday to what we knew confirmed with Burton getting the point they needed last night?

[It’s] difficult to put into words. I think it’s true that something was coming you could see happening, so that frustration or disappointing situation was coming, I will say, and the fact that we have a lot of extra lives, maybe make that pain even longer, maybe you want to say that. Obviously this week has been really tough to take because you still have to play games, but you realise that you are playing for nothing because you are going down already. So that’s tough.

As I’ve been saying, [it] is something that we create, something that we deserve because, after that many games, you are down there, it’s not unlucky.

So it’s difficult to take, but at the same time, we have to take it. Now we have time to reflect and to see things we should do better for the future, for the club, for everyone, for each individual. I try to say to the boys that because a lot of young players here that they have to learn from the situation and it is a sport and it’s a part of life and sometimes you, you don’t get what you want. The important thing is you have to learn. You have to improve as a footballer, but more importantly as a person, and I think we have to do that.

You’ve obviously probably had conversations within the club this week and you’ve been thinking privately as well. If you were to put your finger on why Rovers are being relegated, what’s the biggest reason in your mind?

Well, I think then everything I would say would be an excuse and I’m not going to say that. It’s true that, as I say, when I came, it was difficult, obviously. That’s why I came, because it was a difficult situation and I thought that we stop a little bit that falling down and when we create that gap with the nine points, I think everybody was thinking that was already done. I was still thinking that it was not done, but it’s true that I thought, ‘okay, we slowed down the falling down.’ So I was quite happy because, as I say, it was not easy at that time.

But it’s true that after, I would say, with the injuries, as I said, I don’t want it to be an excuse because we should be even enough to stay in the league without that, but it’s true that I think that it was quite clear because, for me, the team kept improving defensively, we reduced a lot of the chances conceded.

But we couldn’t score goals and then you start the bad run, and in that bad run you have to be really strong to go out from the bad runs and we were not a strong team because of everything before. [It] makes you go back to that bad mental status that we were [in] so it was more difficult.

Even like that, as I say, there were key games like Mansfield, Exeter that I think we should get something from them, but, as I say, it’s excuses, and as you can see, I try to speak just about the football because for me, that’s my thing. That’s the thing I came for. Anything else I cannot control too much.

And with the benefit of hindsight, would you have done anything differently since joining the football club? It seems two minutes ago you were meeting supporters at Exeter. January, the transfer window, limited training sessions given the amount of games. What would you have done differently?

Yeah, but even the transfer window is something that…that’s why I was quite as well repetitive about that. Sometimes you can’t control things. You cannot control to lose the goalkeeper in the last day and again, that was not something that we [could] control. But again, it’s like, if I speak about that, it’s like I don’t like Jed [Ward], it’s not the case. I like Jed but it’s true that obviously Josh [Griffiths] is playing now in the Championship, so that’s a reason because of that.

But again, I say that I didn’t want to put excuses and now it’s like I’m putting excuses. I think that. I’m saying that because obviously now it’s done so I have to reflect. But in terms of what I could do differently, not too many things, I will say. Not too many things.

I’ve been trying to adapt the way we have to play. Maybe I thought we would play better, but at the same time, we started to see that it was not working so you have to adapt a little bit more, even with the system. It might be I wanted to play 4-3-3 but there was a moment after we have two strikers, so that’s why I changed to two strikers. All of a sudden, the two strikers are not even in the team so then go back to 4-3-3. But then the wingers, I don’t think they were having a great time, so then you have to change again.

So I’ve been trying to adapt all the time and that’s what I have to do when you have problems, is try to find solutions. Obviously, it didn’t work because especially that run has been the killer.

And as we look to the future, do you hope to be at the football club next season? Will you be at the football club next season?

Yeah, but again, that’s not something I can control. Obviously, I understand there are a lot of rumours and obviously we have to talk about that. The club has to make the decision that is the best for the club.

It’s not about me. I always say that the club is more important than Inigo Calderon. So the club has to make the decision.

Obviously I would like to stay here, especially because I think the business hasn’t been done for me. I feel a big part of that relegation, big time. But it’s true that it’s not up to me. I have to have a conversation with the board and I think they have to make the…it’s not an easy one for them either because they have to make a great decision because obviously next year is going to be massive.

Be cause you’ll back yourself and you don’t want the last image of Rovers fans to be you apologising to them in front of the Thatcher’s terrace. Do you have confidence in your abilities to get Rovers promoted next season?

Yeah, that’s why I say about apologise[ing]. I always say that I don’t like too much to say sorry, but at the same time, you have to apologise because as a head coach, I didn’t help to save the team in the division.

So obviously, I would like to put these things right and to put again the club in the division, at least, I’ve been saying that for a long time, they should be [in]. I would say that they have to be higher but the reality is that this club hasn’t been there for the reason I don’t really know.

But obviously, I would like to be part of that because I don’t like the last memory [being] going down. That’s not what I like. I hate losing. Obviously I hate relegations and actually, when you have the chance to go back at least to the place I was before.

But listen, I think there are bigger things to talk about. I think the club has to make the right decision. Obviously, I would like to know as well because I have my family, I have my kids and they’re asking me because obviously they know how is football and they see how that happens.

Inigo Calderon applauds the Bristol Rovers faithful(Image: James Marsh/EFL)

Listen, I am strong enough to take whatever. Hopefully, I would like to stay here, as I said, because I see a lot of good things in this football club. Even after such a bad run, I still feel the support from a lot of the supporters. For me, that’s like I have to give you something back because I feel that I tried to do everything possible I could. I tried to put my life in here but it didn’t work.

And, to be fair, I think, at the same time, as I say, I haven’t been too long here but I really understand and enjoy the philosophy and the mentality of the fans here. That’s why I’d like to stay here because it is not just about the result because they’re going to support the team wherever they are. If they are League Two, they will support the team. If they are in League One, they will support the team and that’s a big, big thing, you know? Because you know that there are fans who just support when they go up, no, no, here the Rovers fans, they’re so loyal and I think they appreciate the effort and the passion. It is the minimum, but at the same time, it’s what I can give about the commitment, the passion and they decide to do things right.

So I’ve really felt that connection with the fans, so that’s why I think this is a bit of business unfinished with the football club.

So listen, it’s probably not for me, it’s not now the time to talk about that. We need to reflect a little bit because I don’t think you can make decisions in the heat of the emotions.

Ricky Martin’s still getting his feet under the table, but do you expect and want changes to the playing squad in the summer? What type of summer will it be in terms of how the team will be looking come August?

I think it is still early, and obviously the club has been working on that behind the scenes because you have to be ready for both scenarios. But listen, as I say, for me it’s too early to say about that still. [I’m] trying to prepare the best way possible [for] the away game to Blackpool because you haven’t asked me about that. That’s the reality, we’re talking about the next year, but still we have a game that is really difficult to prepare [for] because mentally we are thinking more than the season. ‘Am I going to stay here? Who’s going to stay here?’ So that’s the reality.

At least we have maybe one more week to work on these things because we know where we’re going to be. But listen, it will be a lot of changes probably, yes.

New Bristol Rovers director of football Ricky Martin takes in the Memorial Stadium pre-match(Image: Will Cooper/PPAUK)

You’ve been at a club like Brighton which is celebrated for how they work on and off the pitch. Do you think Rovers as a football club will learn from this season and improve moving forwards?

We have to. I want to say fail; even for me fail is when you don’t try everything. But even with a relegation, saying it’s been unlucky, no, then it will be a bigger mistake.

I don’t think it’s a mistake to go down. I think that’s football. Obviously, no one wants that. The mistake will be we don’t learn from it and then [it] will be a big, big mistake.

And I feel I should mention a game on Saturday. I know a lot of Rovers fans are travelling. No doubt assurances that despite all the disappointments, you’ll put in a 90 minute effort for them to give them something to smile about?

Yeah, and I said to the boys before we try to prepare [in] the most professional way we can. Even knowing that, as I say, the atmosphere is not ideal in terms of everybody. That’s not what you want, but again, it’s what we created and the situation we put ourselves in.

So listen, as you say, I want to think that maybe without the pressure we perform a bit better. It could be either way. [It] could be we don’t feel the pressure, we enjoy a little bit, maybe, finally enjoy playing football. That’s why we play football. Or [it] could be a disaster because we are with no energy at all. Could be either way. I don’t think it’s gonna be in between.

Have you been able to have an open conversation with your players today now that obviously relegation has been confirmed?

No, not really because we were thinking already, not after the game against Reading; nearly. But it’s true after when Burton scored at the end against Cambridge, it was the goal difference and the game in hand. We didn’t even mention that.

It’s true that today I felt even worse than yesterday. Maybe they thought that. Listen, I don’t think there was anyone in the camp thinking, ‘okay I think we still have a chance’, you know?

I thought that even after losing the game against Reading, I was in the car and I was listening [to] the game and when they were 1-1 I was thinking, ‘you know, maybe at the end we have a chance’. It’s been so crazy this end of the season that maybe we have a chance. But then again, they score in the 93[rd minute], it’s like, okay, no, 100 per cent we don’t have a chance because it’s happening again and again and again that it’s not happening. But that’s the reality.

So you listened to it on the radio and then what, was it just quiet?

Yeah, it was. Obviously after the game against Reading, especially because the way I think we perform and it’s like, it’s not happening. As I say, I was not even listening too much or looking at the result because I was thinking, ‘they’re going to win and I don’t want to make more pain to myself’.

So even after I watch the 1-0, I was thinking that’s it. I knew that. But it’s true that when they scored the 1-1 I was thinking, ‘you know what, we’re going to go to Blackpool with a chance’ because it was happening. It was not making any sense to lose that many games and still be in with a chance to avoid relegation. So that’s why I was thinking maybe. But it’s true after the 2-1 it was like, come on. It was clear that we don’t have a chance.

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I guess your first job is never going be an easy one, is it? If you wanna get into senior management, especially mid-season, it’s because you’re going into a club that’s struggled. So how do your expectations when taking the job around Christmas compare with how it’s gone?

I think I found more difficulties than I expected. I think I found more difficulties than I will ever expect or have in the future in terms of injuries, the transfer window; there’s so many things. Even the group itself with the mood they were. So, a lot of things that, ‘oof, this is going to be tough to find that’, you know?

It was like, the day I arrive with Kamil [Conteh], all of a sudden he couldn’t play anymore. You say, ‘wow, what happened?’ And after the Promise one, Promise again, Chris Martin, so there were so many things that probably you don’t need. Not even in the first experience, just you don’t need that when you are fighting to avoid relegation. So it’s been really tough.

I tried to do everything possible and I feel so calm with myself in terms of, I think I squeezed myself to a limit to try to make this team stay in the league. And as I say, I sleep quite well in that terms, and I would include everyone here. We tried to do everything against, sometimes the conditions, but with the most fair and honest intentions if you want to say it like that?

That’s why I say before about the fans that a lot of fans, they saw that, and even the fact that after the game, they’re still giving me some support. I was like, ‘wow’, you know? After that bad run, I think you could say whatever you want, and they were the opposite. They were trying to lift me up.

So credit to the fans because I think, as I say, it’s been the most important part of the club and I think in this club, in that, we are really in a good place.

Every word Inigo Calderon said on Bristol Rovers’ relegation, his future, mistakes and more

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