Quique S. Flores: “I didn’t like either the result or the way we played”
“Leaving these players without anyone at the wheel would be suicide”
Quique Sánchez Flores was upset over the loss to Sporting at El Molinón. The manager of Atlético de Madrid wasn’t content with either the result or his team’s play, especially in attack. At his post-game press conference he stated that “it was a very rough and hard match, with lots of physical play on the ground and in the air. We played a solid match in defence until the mistake, but with little attack. Errors are starting to become awful.”
With respect to whether or not Atlético got stuck into the match, the coach stated that “we came in with a tough mental state, and got into it physically but had a hard time attacking. I thought we were fine defensively, but the defensive balance until the mistake was favourable. I don’t like either the result or the way we played offensively. It left me cold. I try to be recurrent, change the system; I try to change the match but I can’t change what happens on the pitch. Something that we leave undone becomes something negative for the team. We expected Sporting to play like that, a valiant and battling side.”
Concerning whether there was a lack of intensity from his players during the encounter and why he didn’t send on Borja, the manager highlighted that “I attribute the easy passes to the lack of confidence in the last four matches. With exception to the one against Mallorca, we got poor results. We didn’t get rid of the ball, but rather tried to make short combinations and lost the ball. The squad fought and battled but we weren’t sharp in front of the opposing goal. We had attacking players on the pitch, and Borja is coming from where he’s coming.”
He was asked how he feels regarding the future, to which he responded “after what happened last season I feel strong enough to continue until I’m exhausted. We have many players to recover. We worked with another perspective last season. We’re in or close to European spots, but we can’t depend on each result. Leaving these players without anyone at the wheel would be suicide because they’re players who need guidance and direction and we can’t allow that to happen.”
To finish, he made it very clear that “I believe that my history at Atlético de Madrid is indelible. Blaming this situation on one position doesn’t seem right to me. We’re 10 points back of Champions spots, but streaks change. I go to sleep calm every night. Coaches go in spells and my work and my confidence is the same. I’m the same person with and without a team.”
With respect to whether or not Atlético got stuck into the match, the coach stated that “we came in with a tough mental state, and got into it physically but had a hard time attacking. I thought we were fine defensively, but the defensive balance until the mistake was favourable. I don’t like either the result or the way we played offensively. It left me cold. I try to be recurrent, change the system; I try to change the match but I can’t change what happens on the pitch. Something that we leave undone becomes something negative for the team. We expected Sporting to play like that, a valiant and battling side.”
Concerning whether there was a lack of intensity from his players during the encounter and why he didn’t send on Borja, the manager highlighted that “I attribute the easy passes to the lack of confidence in the last four matches. With exception to the one against Mallorca, we got poor results. We didn’t get rid of the ball, but rather tried to make short combinations and lost the ball. The squad fought and battled but we weren’t sharp in front of the opposing goal. We had attacking players on the pitch, and Borja is coming from where he’s coming.”
He was asked how he feels regarding the future, to which he responded “after what happened last season I feel strong enough to continue until I’m exhausted. We have many players to recover. We worked with another perspective last season. We’re in or close to European spots, but we can’t depend on each result. Leaving these players without anyone at the wheel would be suicide because they’re players who need guidance and direction and we can’t allow that to happen.”
To finish, he made it very clear that “I believe that my history at Atlético de Madrid is indelible. Blaming this situation on one position doesn’t seem right to me. We’re 10 points back of Champions spots, but streaks change. I go to sleep calm every night. Coaches go in spells and my work and my confidence is the same. I’m the same person with and without a team.”