The ‘rojiblancos’, convinced they’ll achieve their European goal playing like this
Tiago: “The goal is open and we’re surely going to accomplish it”
The Atlético de Madrid players were pleased with the work they’re doing, although not completely satisfied because they believe that they deserved more than a draw for all they’d done in the match against Sevilla.
The first to appear before the press in the mixed zone was home-grown player Koke, who tallied the first goal with an amazing header off service from Forlán. It was his first goal in the First Division. “Scoring was important to me and to the team because it levelled the match at the beginning of the second half. We tried to earn the three points, but it wasn’t meant to be. The ovation was incredible; I can’t explain how it felt. We had lots of chances, both in the first half as well as the second. Now we have to keep working. Quique congratulated me and told me to keep playing like this. I was a bit tired and the gaffer could see that and decided to take me off. I’m comfortable wherever the coach plays me, above all here with my team, with Atleti. At the beginning I was a bit nervous because I was playing back here again, but the fans supported me as soon as I made a play, and then I was very comfortable with the people and with everything.”
José Antonio Reyes was the author of the second goal, which equalised at 2-all. The winger from Utrera scored against the club that gave him his chance in the First Division. “We had the chances to come away with the victory, but they also had some, so we’re all leaving happy. They’re a direct rival and it’s a point that doesn’t help out either of us very much, but they didn’t win and that’s important. Out opponents do less than us, shoot twice and score two goals, but you have to live with that in football. The people have been behind us from the first day and that gives the team a kind of hope that you don’t experience in all stadiums. We owe the comeback to them.”
Tiago Cardoso Mendes played a good game and was the protagonist of an attack that could have given the home team a 3-2 win, but in the end Javi Varas made the save. “It was a fast play. The referee called an illegal back-pass and we had to try and take the kick quickly to score but I don’t know how the goalkeeper made the save on Kun’s shot. We wanted the three points; it was important to win today but we weren’t able to. We had chances to grab the match-winner and take the lead. Our European goal is still open, even, one match less to go, but we’re going to keep working and we’ll surely achieve it. We feel like they attack twice and always cause us harm, while we have a tough time scoring goals. We have to keep working. Luck also has to help us out a bit more; it’s going to change and we’re going to try to improve. The public was great; they’re always with us. I didn’t really like that they whistled one of my teammates and that really hurts us. I ask the fans to always be behind us whoever the player may be, especially one who gives their all on the pitch. Personal things aren’t important when the team doesn’t win; if everything went well I’d always be happy, but in this situation one’s personal situation is of the least.”
Juanfran Torres came on with 20 minutes left and revolutionised the attack, contributing pace and freshness to attack the Sevilla goal with danger. The winger highlighted that “the team had a bit of a tough time in the first half and was better in the second; we ran hard, we competed. At times we were better, but we were lacking the luck needed to win. We’re right there, there are lots of points left and we have to be positive. After a poor dynamic in January we played really well in Zaragoza and today we showed face. Now we have to go for the three points in Getafe and then more of the same at home against Villarreal. I hadn’t played in a few weeks and I really wanted to help the team. It’s clear that I’m going to be fine with minutes little-by-little because I feel good and I’m going to contribute a lot to the squad. It’s not easy to come to a new club and earn the affection and respect of everyone right when you arrive. I give it all during training and I try to work as hard as I can in the few minutes I get; with that I hope to convince the gaffer to slowly get more minutes. Everyone comes to the Calderón with lots of motivation because of the atmosphere there and the respect that you get for winning there. Obviously when we play well and are committed there are few teams that can win here and we have to be strong if we want to be in Europe next year.”
The first to appear before the press in the mixed zone was home-grown player Koke, who tallied the first goal with an amazing header off service from Forlán. It was his first goal in the First Division. “Scoring was important to me and to the team because it levelled the match at the beginning of the second half. We tried to earn the three points, but it wasn’t meant to be. The ovation was incredible; I can’t explain how it felt. We had lots of chances, both in the first half as well as the second. Now we have to keep working. Quique congratulated me and told me to keep playing like this. I was a bit tired and the gaffer could see that and decided to take me off. I’m comfortable wherever the coach plays me, above all here with my team, with Atleti. At the beginning I was a bit nervous because I was playing back here again, but the fans supported me as soon as I made a play, and then I was very comfortable with the people and with everything.”
José Antonio Reyes was the author of the second goal, which equalised at 2-all. The winger from Utrera scored against the club that gave him his chance in the First Division. “We had the chances to come away with the victory, but they also had some, so we’re all leaving happy. They’re a direct rival and it’s a point that doesn’t help out either of us very much, but they didn’t win and that’s important. Out opponents do less than us, shoot twice and score two goals, but you have to live with that in football. The people have been behind us from the first day and that gives the team a kind of hope that you don’t experience in all stadiums. We owe the comeback to them.”
Tiago Cardoso Mendes played a good game and was the protagonist of an attack that could have given the home team a 3-2 win, but in the end Javi Varas made the save. “It was a fast play. The referee called an illegal back-pass and we had to try and take the kick quickly to score but I don’t know how the goalkeeper made the save on Kun’s shot. We wanted the three points; it was important to win today but we weren’t able to. We had chances to grab the match-winner and take the lead. Our European goal is still open, even, one match less to go, but we’re going to keep working and we’ll surely achieve it. We feel like they attack twice and always cause us harm, while we have a tough time scoring goals. We have to keep working. Luck also has to help us out a bit more; it’s going to change and we’re going to try to improve. The public was great; they’re always with us. I didn’t really like that they whistled one of my teammates and that really hurts us. I ask the fans to always be behind us whoever the player may be, especially one who gives their all on the pitch. Personal things aren’t important when the team doesn’t win; if everything went well I’d always be happy, but in this situation one’s personal situation is of the least.”
Juanfran Torres came on with 20 minutes left and revolutionised the attack, contributing pace and freshness to attack the Sevilla goal with danger. The winger highlighted that “the team had a bit of a tough time in the first half and was better in the second; we ran hard, we competed. At times we were better, but we were lacking the luck needed to win. We’re right there, there are lots of points left and we have to be positive. After a poor dynamic in January we played really well in Zaragoza and today we showed face. Now we have to go for the three points in Getafe and then more of the same at home against Villarreal. I hadn’t played in a few weeks and I really wanted to help the team. It’s clear that I’m going to be fine with minutes little-by-little because I feel good and I’m going to contribute a lot to the squad. It’s not easy to come to a new club and earn the affection and respect of everyone right when you arrive. I give it all during training and I try to work as hard as I can in the few minutes I get; with that I hope to convince the gaffer to slowly get more minutes. Everyone comes to the Calderón with lots of motivation because of the atmosphere there and the respect that you get for winning there. Obviously when we play well and are committed there are few teams that can win here and we have to be strong if we want to be in Europe next year.”
