Real Sociedad coach Pellegrino Matarazzo insisted his players deserved the credit after a 1-0 win over Basque rivals Athletic Club in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final tie.

Matarazzo has overseen a dramatic turnaround since replacing Sergio Francisco at the helm in December, winning six and drawing three of his nine matches at the helm.

His best result yet arrived in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, with Benat Turrientes scoring the only goal as La Real left San Mames with a 1-0 lead.

Asked how he had gone about reviving La Real's fortunes, Matarazzo said: "It's not the Matarazzo effect, it's the Real Sociedad effect. We are all in it together. 

"It is a Real Sociedad effect with everyone involved: staff, fans, and players. That's how the results are being achieved."

La Real only had 12 shots, compared to Athletic's 13, though they won the expected goals (xG) battle by 2.48 to 0.73.

Asked if they might regret missing an opportunity to kill the tie off, Matarazzo said: "You have to accept it and continue, and reflect on what can be improved, but don't think about what has happened already.

"Logically, if we had scored more goals, the second leg would have been easier."

Athletic have only won one of their 12 two-legged ties in the Copa del Rey after losing the first leg at home, triumphing against Real Murcia in the round of 16 in 1955 (0-1 in the first leg, 2-0 in the second leg).

Right-back Inigo Lekue still believes Ernesto Valverde's side can reach the final, saying: "The result reflected how the game went. 

"In the first half, we both had our chances and in the second we didn't know how to contain them. The good thing is that it's only one goal. It is still recoverable and it is still possible."