Quique Sánchez Flores: “We have to make these types of points stand up at home”
“The goal we conceded two minutes in affected us”
Quique Sánchez Flores couldn’t allow himself to be pleased with the draw against Getafe. He felt that his team was superior, but lacked materializing that superiority with goals before the equalizer came. “We came here with the idea of winning and we didn’t win. We felt that we were better because we had 55 percent of the possession. We were in the opposing half a lot, were close to their goal, but didn’t have many scoring chances. Their goalkeeper made more saves than ours did. Statistically we can’t be happy with the result either. It’s true that the equalizer should have come earlier, but what really conditioned the match was the goal just two minutes in. For Getafe, the perfect game developed. I spoke with all of the players after the game and they complained about a lack of spaces. If you concede a goal after two minutes, which is already a problem in itself, and then the opponent closes down the spaces, things get really complicated.”
Earning points by ones won’t help the team reach its European goal. “Exactly. We won’t make it point by point. The fact is that we have to make these types of points stand up at home. We have to regain our joy and our feelings at home from the first half of the season. I try to visualize that the seventh, sixth and fifth place teams are within a shooting distance of three and five points. We have a very difficult schedule, but I try to remain positive. We’re really having to suffer. It’s not going to be an easy season to achieve even that second goal, which could be to qualify for European competition.”
Concerning how he felt his team played against Getafe, the manager acknowledged that “giving up such an early goal got us out of how we wanted to play. We’re capable of maneuvering with Reyes, Koke, Raúl and Tiago. Up to there, in three-quarters of the pitch, there’s no difficulty. From there, it looked like the strikers were uncomfortable. They can’t seem to find their place either on tough plays or the easiest of plays. I spoke with them at the end of the game and they didn’t feel good, they couldn’t find their space. We need them from here until the end of the season and I think that the team is doing enough to find them. Therefore, from here on out we’re going to have to look for our forwards, who are very important in this squad. We’re going to try and make sure they’re more comfortable and have the chances they need.”
As regards the absence of players such as Fran Mérida in the team sheet, or Elías in the starting eleven, Quique Sánchez Flores highlighted that “It’s not like Koke or Reyes are giving bad passes. What I can’t do is play with 12 or 14 players. I’d love to, but I’m not allowed to. They’re also very good players. We had four players to send passes in Tiago, Reyes, Koke and Raúl García, four guys who know how to screen their passes well. And the ball arrived to that point well. It’s true that Getafe did a very good defensive job and didn’t leave open spaces.”
Regarding why Filipe Luis wasn’t included in the squad list and whether he could be considered a disappointment, he head coach commented that “almost nothing catches me by surprise. There are things that are difficult to fit in, depending on the season. Filipe Luis is a very good player and Atlético de Madrid will enjoy him this season and those that remain of a long contract. I believe that Filipe has found himself in a very hard season. He was coming off a very complicated injury and six months without playing. He’s played certain matches a bit anxiously. He’s adapting and will be important at Atlético de Madrid. We have to look at the daily sensations of each training session. We have to play those who are the least nervous, the most capable of controlling their anxiety and who manage being on stage the best.”
Earning points by ones won’t help the team reach its European goal. “Exactly. We won’t make it point by point. The fact is that we have to make these types of points stand up at home. We have to regain our joy and our feelings at home from the first half of the season. I try to visualize that the seventh, sixth and fifth place teams are within a shooting distance of three and five points. We have a very difficult schedule, but I try to remain positive. We’re really having to suffer. It’s not going to be an easy season to achieve even that second goal, which could be to qualify for European competition.”
Concerning how he felt his team played against Getafe, the manager acknowledged that “giving up such an early goal got us out of how we wanted to play. We’re capable of maneuvering with Reyes, Koke, Raúl and Tiago. Up to there, in three-quarters of the pitch, there’s no difficulty. From there, it looked like the strikers were uncomfortable. They can’t seem to find their place either on tough plays or the easiest of plays. I spoke with them at the end of the game and they didn’t feel good, they couldn’t find their space. We need them from here until the end of the season and I think that the team is doing enough to find them. Therefore, from here on out we’re going to have to look for our forwards, who are very important in this squad. We’re going to try and make sure they’re more comfortable and have the chances they need.”
As regards the absence of players such as Fran Mérida in the team sheet, or Elías in the starting eleven, Quique Sánchez Flores highlighted that “It’s not like Koke or Reyes are giving bad passes. What I can’t do is play with 12 or 14 players. I’d love to, but I’m not allowed to. They’re also very good players. We had four players to send passes in Tiago, Reyes, Koke and Raúl García, four guys who know how to screen their passes well. And the ball arrived to that point well. It’s true that Getafe did a very good defensive job and didn’t leave open spaces.”
Regarding why Filipe Luis wasn’t included in the squad list and whether he could be considered a disappointment, he head coach commented that “almost nothing catches me by surprise. There are things that are difficult to fit in, depending on the season. Filipe Luis is a very good player and Atlético de Madrid will enjoy him this season and those that remain of a long contract. I believe that Filipe has found himself in a very hard season. He was coming off a very complicated injury and six months without playing. He’s played certain matches a bit anxiously. He’s adapting and will be important at Atlético de Madrid. We have to look at the daily sensations of each training session. We have to play those who are the least nervous, the most capable of controlling their anxiety and who manage being on stage the best.”
