Quique S. Flores: 'We want to be the team that earns the most points in the second half”
“The match against Athletic should be one of joy and amnesty”
Quique Sánchez Flores hopes that the fixture against Athletic is a turning point for the ‘rojiblanco’ team’s aspirations. He knows that a victory is crucial to continue fighting for the top spots and wanted to make that clear during his press conference. “There’s always a team that steps it up in the second half and earns 40 or 42 points. Why can’t it be Atlético? We want to be the team that earns the most points in the second half. We’ve missed out on some points and have to regain them. I think we should have three or four more. We’ve had a year of learning with these players and we know what they need.”
The interest of other teams in various Atlético players has been published in the press this week. The manager doesn’t think that will affect his footballers and stated that “I don’t think that weighs on them. Miguel Ángel Gil’s message was clear: those that are in the squad have to move this situation forward. We have to focus solely on Atlético de Madrid and row harder and stronger than ever. The players have a strong mentality and are aware of the current situation. There’s a big commitment here towards reaching our goal. I don’t see anyone who wants to leave.”
Concerning the visit of the Managing Director, Gil Marín, Quique explained that “it’s normal. I don’t know any Club which doesn’t receive a message from the organization over the course of a season. When things are at there worst it’s time to join forces. The existing dialog is positive.”
The ‘rojiblancos’ will take on Athletic on Sunday, a team that “is dynamic and young. This match should be one of joy and amnesty in order to put a final point to separate the first half of the season. We’re playing an opponent that is in a spot where we want to be. Winning tomorrow is important. We’ll be playing in front of our fans and we’re obligated to win. We have to put into practice what we’ve been working on during the week.”
The aerial play of the Basque side is one of the strong points of Caparrós' squad. Quique believes that “they’re a team that attacks less away from home, but they’re strong in the air. We have to try and keep Llorente from playing close to the area, but to do that we have to put into function a series of mechanisms.”
The manager played down the important of the offers received for Forlán and Agüero, saying that “it’s impossible for that not to leak out when dealing with a large Club such as Atlético de Madrid. You have to live with those situations.
“I have nothing to say about my future and I don’t like to be constantly questioned about it. What I feel for this club and for these supporters goes beyond the results. When everything is over and I’m no longer at Atlético, I’ll say ‘I was damn happy at that team’,” he highlighted.
With respect to the physical form of Diego Forlán, Quique asserted that “he’s a strong lad who’s always in the eye of the hurricane for better or for worse. He leaves a conflictive trail, but not because of the way he is. He’s a very normal guy. You have to respect him because he’s given a lot to Atlético’s history. Without Forlán’s goals we won’t reach our objective. We’re going to try and get him to regain his comfort space.”
To finish, Quique spoke about the reception that he expects at the Vicente Calderón for the Athletic match and said that “people have the right to do what they believe appropriate, but I always hope fore a positive response. I arrived at a delicate time and they showed me great respect. The supporters show enormous respect and know what we need. They gave an incredible lesson on the day of the Copa del Rey final. The players know that they can’t let their people down.”
The interest of other teams in various Atlético players has been published in the press this week. The manager doesn’t think that will affect his footballers and stated that “I don’t think that weighs on them. Miguel Ángel Gil’s message was clear: those that are in the squad have to move this situation forward. We have to focus solely on Atlético de Madrid and row harder and stronger than ever. The players have a strong mentality and are aware of the current situation. There’s a big commitment here towards reaching our goal. I don’t see anyone who wants to leave.”
Concerning the visit of the Managing Director, Gil Marín, Quique explained that “it’s normal. I don’t know any Club which doesn’t receive a message from the organization over the course of a season. When things are at there worst it’s time to join forces. The existing dialog is positive.”
The ‘rojiblancos’ will take on Athletic on Sunday, a team that “is dynamic and young. This match should be one of joy and amnesty in order to put a final point to separate the first half of the season. We’re playing an opponent that is in a spot where we want to be. Winning tomorrow is important. We’ll be playing in front of our fans and we’re obligated to win. We have to put into practice what we’ve been working on during the week.”
The aerial play of the Basque side is one of the strong points of Caparrós' squad. Quique believes that “they’re a team that attacks less away from home, but they’re strong in the air. We have to try and keep Llorente from playing close to the area, but to do that we have to put into function a series of mechanisms.”
The manager played down the important of the offers received for Forlán and Agüero, saying that “it’s impossible for that not to leak out when dealing with a large Club such as Atlético de Madrid. You have to live with those situations.
“I have nothing to say about my future and I don’t like to be constantly questioned about it. What I feel for this club and for these supporters goes beyond the results. When everything is over and I’m no longer at Atlético, I’ll say ‘I was damn happy at that team’,” he highlighted.
With respect to the physical form of Diego Forlán, Quique asserted that “he’s a strong lad who’s always in the eye of the hurricane for better or for worse. He leaves a conflictive trail, but not because of the way he is. He’s a very normal guy. You have to respect him because he’s given a lot to Atlético’s history. Without Forlán’s goals we won’t reach our objective. We’re going to try and get him to regain his comfort space.”
To finish, Quique spoke about the reception that he expects at the Vicente Calderón for the Athletic match and said that “people have the right to do what they believe appropriate, but I always hope fore a positive response. I arrived at a delicate time and they showed me great respect. The supporters show enormous respect and know what we need. They gave an incredible lesson on the day of the Copa del Rey final. The players know that they can’t let their people down.”
