The Atlético players, happy with the win, already focused on Espanyol
Mario Suárez: “We are Atlético and can’t give up on anything”
The Atlético de Madrid players who appeared before the press in the mixed zone agreed that the fans deserved a complete game like the one they played and a categorical victory. Mario Suárez, Reyes and Filipe Luis are already looking ahead to next Sunday’s clash against Espanyol at Estadio de Cornellà-El Prat.
Mario Suárez scored Atlético’s second goal, putting the icing on an exceptional play by Reyes down the left, when the winger left a defender on the ground and served up the central midfielder’s goal on a silver platter. “We’ve always said that the team needed to be in a good dynamic. We have lots of confidence and believe in our possibilities. We’re very happy and we have to follow this line of play, from game to game. There are seven matches left and we’re going to fight for all of the points left and we’ll see where we are in May,” highlighted Mario.
With respect to the team’s chances of reaching Champions League spots, the goal that they’d set at the start of the season, Mario said that “the reality is that Champions is far, but we’re Atlético de Madrid and we can’t give up on anything. There are seven matches left, 21 points at stake, and we’re going to fight for them all.”
He dedicated his goal to one of the physical therapists, Esteban Arévalo. “As you all know, I’ve had a hard time with injuries this year and he’s the one who has to deal with me every day, both on the good and the bad ones. He’s been with me almost more than my family and I wanted to dedicate it to him,” he finished.
José Antonio Reyes played a great all-around game and, even though he didn’t score, he showed his class by creating the play that led to the second goal right before halftime. “It was a nice move; I gave four or five feints, but the important thing is that it ended in a goal. I’m leaving happy because the team won. It was time to give the fans something to cheer about; they deserved it. It was a match to enjoy. We’re in European spots and now we have to maintain this standard of play. We have a crucial fixture on Sunday that we know we have to win,” he stated.
Left back Filipe Luis was the one to open the scoring with a great left-footed shot that beat Bravo to the near post after a nice back-heel from Diego Costa. “I’m very pleased because I scored and the team won. It’s my first goal with the Atleti shirt. I think that I’m getting better little by little and I’m getting into the Club dynamic. I had to dedicate the goal to Domínguez because we speak a lot and we’ve endured a lot this season. We’ve both had criticism directed towards us, I’ve played with him in many games and I’ve really enjoyed playing with him because he’s a great player and a great guy. I wanted to share that moment with him,” he highlighted.
The Brazilian, on a personal note, acknowledged that “I’m constantly battling to achieve the consistency that I want. I want to play well in every game and that hasn’t happened this season. I’m aware of that. It’s a constant battle to stay focused, to always be ready and at my best level. I think that I’m on the right path.”
To finish, he stated that “the team is improving and we’re in a very good dynamic. We’re taking good care of the ball and without it we’re being aggressive, the whole team is defending and you can tell. The manager congratulated us but we’ve made lots of mistakes and have to fix them. Champions League is very far away; we have to be aware of that and go match to match being realistic.”
Mario Suárez scored Atlético’s second goal, putting the icing on an exceptional play by Reyes down the left, when the winger left a defender on the ground and served up the central midfielder’s goal on a silver platter. “We’ve always said that the team needed to be in a good dynamic. We have lots of confidence and believe in our possibilities. We’re very happy and we have to follow this line of play, from game to game. There are seven matches left and we’re going to fight for all of the points left and we’ll see where we are in May,” highlighted Mario.
With respect to the team’s chances of reaching Champions League spots, the goal that they’d set at the start of the season, Mario said that “the reality is that Champions is far, but we’re Atlético de Madrid and we can’t give up on anything. There are seven matches left, 21 points at stake, and we’re going to fight for them all.”
He dedicated his goal to one of the physical therapists, Esteban Arévalo. “As you all know, I’ve had a hard time with injuries this year and he’s the one who has to deal with me every day, both on the good and the bad ones. He’s been with me almost more than my family and I wanted to dedicate it to him,” he finished.
José Antonio Reyes played a great all-around game and, even though he didn’t score, he showed his class by creating the play that led to the second goal right before halftime. “It was a nice move; I gave four or five feints, but the important thing is that it ended in a goal. I’m leaving happy because the team won. It was time to give the fans something to cheer about; they deserved it. It was a match to enjoy. We’re in European spots and now we have to maintain this standard of play. We have a crucial fixture on Sunday that we know we have to win,” he stated.
Left back Filipe Luis was the one to open the scoring with a great left-footed shot that beat Bravo to the near post after a nice back-heel from Diego Costa. “I’m very pleased because I scored and the team won. It’s my first goal with the Atleti shirt. I think that I’m getting better little by little and I’m getting into the Club dynamic. I had to dedicate the goal to Domínguez because we speak a lot and we’ve endured a lot this season. We’ve both had criticism directed towards us, I’ve played with him in many games and I’ve really enjoyed playing with him because he’s a great player and a great guy. I wanted to share that moment with him,” he highlighted.
The Brazilian, on a personal note, acknowledged that “I’m constantly battling to achieve the consistency that I want. I want to play well in every game and that hasn’t happened this season. I’m aware of that. It’s a constant battle to stay focused, to always be ready and at my best level. I think that I’m on the right path.”
To finish, he stated that “the team is improving and we’re in a very good dynamic. We’re taking good care of the ball and without it we’re being aggressive, the whole team is defending and you can tell. The manager congratulated us but we’ve made lots of mistakes and have to fix them. Champions League is very far away; we have to be aware of that and go match to match being realistic.”
