Antonio López: “We have to keep working to get the squad out of this bad patch”
The captain hopes to change the poor run of the ‘rojiblanco’ side
The captain of Atlético de Madrid, Antonio López was the player in charge of appearing before the media on Tuesday. The player knows that the team is going through a bad time, although he’s confident of getting back on the winning path against Real Zaragoza. “The clubhouse is down; the results aren’t accompanying us and the team has to be higher up in the table. Although we have to admit that the team’s image hasn’t been bad. We could have come away with the win against Valencia, although it’s no use moaning about it. We have to keep working to bring the squad out of this bad patch,” he emphasized.
The left back stated that he doesn’t pay attention to the criticism, pointing out that “we have to play football and we have to stay away from what’s said about the organization. The situation of the manager and the coaching staff is also our business, as we’re all in the same boat and we want to row in the same direction. We have to escape the criticism being aimed our way, given that it doesn’t help, but rather hurts the group.”
Antonio López was clear regarding the team’s situation and stated that “we have to remain along the same line of work. We have to keep trying. Streaks are made to be broken. We’ve been unlucky, but to turn this around we have to work, work and keep working.”
The player didn’t want to speak about the squad’s goals from here until the end of the season. “We have to focus solely on the next match. Now it’s Real Zaragoza. We’ve always talked about the goal at the end of the season, and it’s gone awry. I’m in favour of going little-by-little. On Saturday we’re facing an opponent that’s in a tough situation and we both want the three points,” he highlighted.
“We all want to win. We’re not considering the possible departure of the coaching staff. They’ve brought us two titles. We haven’t been playing well and no we have to be more united than ever. The coach being fired wouldn’t benefit anybody,” he asserted.
The ‘rojiblanco’ side will take on Javier Aguirre’s Zaragoza on Saturday. The Mexican manager was at the held of Atleti for three seasons. Antonio expects that “we’ll greet him before the start of the match. We’re opponents and each side will look out for their own interests. I hope that things always go well for him, not just this season.”
The left back stated that he doesn’t pay attention to the criticism, pointing out that “we have to play football and we have to stay away from what’s said about the organization. The situation of the manager and the coaching staff is also our business, as we’re all in the same boat and we want to row in the same direction. We have to escape the criticism being aimed our way, given that it doesn’t help, but rather hurts the group.”
Antonio López was clear regarding the team’s situation and stated that “we have to remain along the same line of work. We have to keep trying. Streaks are made to be broken. We’ve been unlucky, but to turn this around we have to work, work and keep working.”
The player didn’t want to speak about the squad’s goals from here until the end of the season. “We have to focus solely on the next match. Now it’s Real Zaragoza. We’ve always talked about the goal at the end of the season, and it’s gone awry. I’m in favour of going little-by-little. On Saturday we’re facing an opponent that’s in a tough situation and we both want the three points,” he highlighted.
“We all want to win. We’re not considering the possible departure of the coaching staff. They’ve brought us two titles. We haven’t been playing well and no we have to be more united than ever. The coach being fired wouldn’t benefit anybody,” he asserted.
The ‘rojiblanco’ side will take on Javier Aguirre’s Zaragoza on Saturday. The Mexican manager was at the held of Atleti for three seasons. Antonio expects that “we’ll greet him before the start of the match. We’re opponents and each side will look out for their own interests. I hope that things always go well for him, not just this season.”