Quique S. Flores: 'I have full confidence in, and respect for, my team”
“Fran Escribá has decided to embark on his career on his own”
Quique Sánchez Flores, manager of Atlético de Madrid, appeared before the press and explained recent events within the team. “The work routine began as it always does. We all met in the dressing room to analyze the match against Racing. It lasted 10 minutes and only the coaching staff and players were there. From that moment on I gave Forlán the word. The Uruguayan spoke for a while and then he and I took the work and finally I invited the group of players to take the word. They didn’t say anything and we took the training pitch. We were angry and upset about the loss to Racing, but obligated to go out and work and focus on the match against Hércules.”
The ‘rojiblanco’ manager continued to speak about his relationship with Forlán, “It’s a very complex matter, and quite unnatural. It gets away from the footballing class of the player, which is beyond all doubts. I have to make decisions as the director of the group. These situations, which I’ve repeated at press conferences, are uncomfortable,” he assured.
With respect to his personal relationships with the organization executives, Quique explained that “I spoke with the President of the organization on Wednesday. It was a conversation similar to many I’ve held, in which the team hadn’t won. This chat had no greater or lesser meaning than those from previous occasions. It was a respectful conversation.”
Quique also spoke about the future of assistant coach Fran Escribá, asserting that “he decided months ago that he’s going to leave to do managing. I’ve been working with him for seven years and he’s decided to embark on a career on his own. He’s performed spectacularly for the coaching staff. Now he’s dedicated to the strategic aspect, set pieces and studying the opponents, but wants to change. After so many years, I’m convinced that he’s very well-prepared to take the step and be a head coach. I perfectly understand that he feels capable of managing a squad after seven years of experience with the best players. There’s no bad relationship with Fran Escribá. It’s a marriage that is ending well.”
Concerning the squad that he coaches every day, Quique highlighted that “I have full confidence in, and respect for, the players because we’ve been in many easy and difficult situations during these years and they’ve always reacted in order to reach their goals. They have respect for their manager and give full dedication. This is possible if we go in the same direction. There’s no doubt about that, nor any suspicion.”
“We have the lesson that the fans gave us just months ago. They’ve been giving it to us all year. Beyond the success we’ve had, I’ll remain with the lesson that they gave at the Cup final. For us, it would be a dishonor to give a poor image. We’re not going to do it,” he reflected.
To finish, he wrapped up his appearance by asking people “not to get blinded by the poor run of results, as there have been quite a few. We have to make the biggest possible effort to earn as many points as we can from here until the end of the season. In ten days we hope to finish as high as possible and for the team to finish in European spots.”
The ‘rojiblanco’ manager continued to speak about his relationship with Forlán, “It’s a very complex matter, and quite unnatural. It gets away from the footballing class of the player, which is beyond all doubts. I have to make decisions as the director of the group. These situations, which I’ve repeated at press conferences, are uncomfortable,” he assured.
With respect to his personal relationships with the organization executives, Quique explained that “I spoke with the President of the organization on Wednesday. It was a conversation similar to many I’ve held, in which the team hadn’t won. This chat had no greater or lesser meaning than those from previous occasions. It was a respectful conversation.”
Quique also spoke about the future of assistant coach Fran Escribá, asserting that “he decided months ago that he’s going to leave to do managing. I’ve been working with him for seven years and he’s decided to embark on a career on his own. He’s performed spectacularly for the coaching staff. Now he’s dedicated to the strategic aspect, set pieces and studying the opponents, but wants to change. After so many years, I’m convinced that he’s very well-prepared to take the step and be a head coach. I perfectly understand that he feels capable of managing a squad after seven years of experience with the best players. There’s no bad relationship with Fran Escribá. It’s a marriage that is ending well.”
Concerning the squad that he coaches every day, Quique highlighted that “I have full confidence in, and respect for, the players because we’ve been in many easy and difficult situations during these years and they’ve always reacted in order to reach their goals. They have respect for their manager and give full dedication. This is possible if we go in the same direction. There’s no doubt about that, nor any suspicion.”
“We have the lesson that the fans gave us just months ago. They’ve been giving it to us all year. Beyond the success we’ve had, I’ll remain with the lesson that they gave at the Cup final. For us, it would be a dishonor to give a poor image. We’re not going to do it,” he reflected.
To finish, he wrapped up his appearance by asking people “not to get blinded by the poor run of results, as there have been quite a few. We have to make the biggest possible effort to earn as many points as we can from here until the end of the season. In ten days we hope to finish as high as possible and for the team to finish in European spots.”
