Quique S.Flores: “Hopefully we’ll get the win for the younger generations”
“We want to be the protagonists of the match”
Quique Sánchez Flores knows that his team is psychologically prepared to break their negative run against Real Madrid. The manager assured this after his team’s training and said that “we’re ready. When the team is happy there’s no need to repeat the importance of the game. In all the match-ups we’ve had with Real Madrid, this is the most joyous we’ve been going into it, with the best play and assurance. We believe that we can win and hopefully we’ll get the victory for the younger generations who haven’t seen us beat them. Completing the circle that we started last season would be to defeat our eternal rival.”
The head coach is clear about how he wants his team to play and asserted that “we have to play to the limit. I ask for aggressiveness from my guys on the limit of sportsmanship. We have to be a solid and aggressive team and spend as much time as possible in our opponent’s half, and think more about ourselves than about our opponents. Beyond what our opponent does, we want to be the protagonists.”
The ‘rojiblanco’ coach gave reasons to the fans to believe that they can break the poor run this season, saying that “when teams are happy, they forget about history. Right now I don’t think that history counts for this group. I see them as content and happy. All of the comments are positive. We’re doing well and have all of our players available. We’re going to stick together and I won’t discard any players until shortly before the contest.”
In highlighting the keys to earning a win, Quique said that they could lie in the defensive balance of the team. “We’ve fluctuated a lot during the season. When we’ve played well in attack, we’ve been worse in defense, and vice versa. Beyond that, we want to give a good feeling as a team and be very focused in all facets of play. We want to be a good all-around team that makes things tough on Real Madrid,” he asserted.
Quique doesn’t want to think about the model from prior matches, such as against Sevilla or Villarreal, as reference points for the game plan. “All opponents are different and we can’t think about a specific match. We’re going to plan the match thinking about ourselves. We have to find our virtues and cover our defects if we want to have a chance. We have to play a complete game in all lines, as we’ve done earlier in the season, for example against Inter or Villarreal. But we have to think about ourselves and not about our opponent,” he stressed.
“Our supporters have surpassed everything we could have expected of them. Last year they gave us a lesson on feelings in the Copa del Rey final. This year they’ve continued to cheer us on even in games that we lost. They’ve believed in the team. They’ll surely be there behind us on Saturday,” stated the manager.
Atlético de Madrid goes into the encounter with the entire squad available. Quique pointed out that “everyone is ready to play and since the whole team wants to be there, I’m going to bring along all of the players. The drops will be made shortly before the match kicks off.”
Quique doesn’t think that Real Madrid will be affected by fatigue after having played in Champions League this week. “It’s true that we’ve had the full week to get ready for the game, but their morale has been boosted by qualifying for the Champions League quarterfinals. Mental state is very important. They’re a team that will overcome any tiredness they feel; they give the sense that they can make it to every loose ball,” he said.
With respect to whether the keys could be in suffocating the play for Xabi Alonso, Quique assured that “I don’t like to cover just one player. Our best games have been when we wrapped up everyone on the opposing side. From Kun back to De Gea. That’s how we play as a squad. If we want to cover Ozil, Xabi, Cristiano, we have to do it with all of the group components.”
The head coach sent a message to the young ‘rojiblanco’ fans, saying that “we want them to set a date. We want Saturday to be the day that we beat Real Madrid and broke the losing streak. It could be a nice season. Recalling that this season was the one in which we defeated Real Madrid would be great. We have to make an extra effort so that the people who follow the team can enjoy from them. We’re not thinking about losing. If we don’t make mistakes, it will help us win.”
Quique also spoke about the news pieces that have surfaced in the press in recent weeks. “I don’t want to speak much about it, because I respect your profession, but there are daring articles, I’m a coach and I’m concerned about the rotations that I have to make. It’s a matter of respect for the group and the group towards me. I’m convinced that the connection with this group is open enough that if there’s a sign of something, that we’re capable of catching it and that others don’t have to tell us,” he wrapped up.
The head coach is clear about how he wants his team to play and asserted that “we have to play to the limit. I ask for aggressiveness from my guys on the limit of sportsmanship. We have to be a solid and aggressive team and spend as much time as possible in our opponent’s half, and think more about ourselves than about our opponents. Beyond what our opponent does, we want to be the protagonists.”
The ‘rojiblanco’ coach gave reasons to the fans to believe that they can break the poor run this season, saying that “when teams are happy, they forget about history. Right now I don’t think that history counts for this group. I see them as content and happy. All of the comments are positive. We’re doing well and have all of our players available. We’re going to stick together and I won’t discard any players until shortly before the contest.”
In highlighting the keys to earning a win, Quique said that they could lie in the defensive balance of the team. “We’ve fluctuated a lot during the season. When we’ve played well in attack, we’ve been worse in defense, and vice versa. Beyond that, we want to give a good feeling as a team and be very focused in all facets of play. We want to be a good all-around team that makes things tough on Real Madrid,” he asserted.
Quique doesn’t want to think about the model from prior matches, such as against Sevilla or Villarreal, as reference points for the game plan. “All opponents are different and we can’t think about a specific match. We’re going to plan the match thinking about ourselves. We have to find our virtues and cover our defects if we want to have a chance. We have to play a complete game in all lines, as we’ve done earlier in the season, for example against Inter or Villarreal. But we have to think about ourselves and not about our opponent,” he stressed.
“Our supporters have surpassed everything we could have expected of them. Last year they gave us a lesson on feelings in the Copa del Rey final. This year they’ve continued to cheer us on even in games that we lost. They’ve believed in the team. They’ll surely be there behind us on Saturday,” stated the manager.
Atlético de Madrid goes into the encounter with the entire squad available. Quique pointed out that “everyone is ready to play and since the whole team wants to be there, I’m going to bring along all of the players. The drops will be made shortly before the match kicks off.”
Quique doesn’t think that Real Madrid will be affected by fatigue after having played in Champions League this week. “It’s true that we’ve had the full week to get ready for the game, but their morale has been boosted by qualifying for the Champions League quarterfinals. Mental state is very important. They’re a team that will overcome any tiredness they feel; they give the sense that they can make it to every loose ball,” he said.
With respect to whether the keys could be in suffocating the play for Xabi Alonso, Quique assured that “I don’t like to cover just one player. Our best games have been when we wrapped up everyone on the opposing side. From Kun back to De Gea. That’s how we play as a squad. If we want to cover Ozil, Xabi, Cristiano, we have to do it with all of the group components.”
The head coach sent a message to the young ‘rojiblanco’ fans, saying that “we want them to set a date. We want Saturday to be the day that we beat Real Madrid and broke the losing streak. It could be a nice season. Recalling that this season was the one in which we defeated Real Madrid would be great. We have to make an extra effort so that the people who follow the team can enjoy from them. We’re not thinking about losing. If we don’t make mistakes, it will help us win.”
Quique also spoke about the news pieces that have surfaced in the press in recent weeks. “I don’t want to speak much about it, because I respect your profession, but there are daring articles, I’m a coach and I’m concerned about the rotations that I have to make. It’s a matter of respect for the group and the group towards me. I’m convinced that the connection with this group is open enough that if there’s a sign of something, that we’re capable of catching it and that others don’t have to tell us,” he wrapped up.