KINGSTON, Jamaica, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Costa Rica manager Fernando Batista said Sunday he would not stand down after a poor run of results continued with a 2-0 defeat to Haiti in the CONCACAF Nations League.
The result followed a 4-3 home loss to Curacao on Thursday and leaves the Central American team with five defeats and a draw in six games since Batista took charge in March.
"I have all the strength because I believe in this group, I believe in the work, and I am not going to announce anything [other than] that tomorrow we have to train and work," the Argentine told a news conference.
Sunday's result left Costa Rica fifth in the six-team Group A standings ahead of its away clash with Nicaragua on Thursday.
When asked how he intended to turn around the team's fortunes, Batista replied: "By working hard. I'm not the only manager that this has happened to."
"There are great managers who have coached in World Cups that started with bad runs and ended up very well. I have absolute faith in my work, I have absolute faith in the group, and I am completely intact."
Batista, who was previously in charge of Venezuela's national team, said he had seen positive signs in the match against Haiti.
"Today there were things that were done very well football-wise," the 56-year-old said. "The thing is, when you lose, you see everything as a negative and that doesn't have to be the case." ■
