Quique S. Flores: “There are two games left, our goal is Europe and it’s sacred”
“We have to play as well as we can against Hércules”
Quique Sánchez Flores appeared before the media at a full Press Room at the Majadahonda Sports Complex. He spoke about the match against Hercules, his future and his relationship with the squad, but before responded to questions from the journalists wanted to comment on his appearance on Wednesday. “Before I get started, I wanted to say that when I came to give explanations about what had happened, I later found out that there was an initiative by the Associated Press in which they weren’t going to attend press conference if there were no later questions. As I found out later, I ask for forgiveness because I didn’t know that existed. It wasn’t my intention at all to make your jobs more difficult,” he stated.
The first question was about whether he regretted any decision he’d made, specifically referring to Forlán’s not starting. “For me, for the decisions that I make about the group, I only take two basic things into account: availability and performance of the players. From there, I make decisions that I think are fair for the group. Regarding availability, you don’t have all the information because I’m the one who’s at 100% with them every day, but as far as performance, sure, you can make as many evaluations as I do. I base decisions on the group from the first moment and never on personal situations. And as I have 25 players, I make the decision to choose with as much fairness as possible, because the group respects you for the decisions you make and the fairness with which you make them. I’ll insist I’m referring to the group, not to a specific case,” he stressed.
He was asked about what happened on the coach returning from El Sardinero to the Sandtander airport and whether there was an argument with Forlán. “I didn’t come here to deny what’s been said. But not for any reason, but rather because it’s your information and even if it’s crazy I’m not going to get involved. Whoever knows Forlán’s and my manners knows that it’s unthinkable that we’d get so far as anything beyond an exchange of opinions. But if after so long you don’t know the way Forlán and I behave, it seems like such a huge atrocity that I can’t make a judgment on it. Now, it forms part of the ignorance about the person, the player and the coach. I’m not going to judge that. That’s information that is read, heard, now we’re going to move forward,” he asserted.
Whe he was again asked about Forlán, Quique responded that “we’re here to speak about the match against Hércules. There are much more important things at hand such as the game against Hércules, the goal that we’re trying to reach and, in some way, the excitement we feel about ending the season well.”
With respect to whether this could be his last press conference as the manager of Atlético de Madrid, he replied that “this isn’t my last press conference or my last game with Atlético de Madrid. Very soon there will be time to give thanks, speak about things and say what I’ve always said normally and clearly. I come to say the truth and at times the truth can be uncomfortable. It’s not time to talk about that. There are two games left and our goal is Europe and it’s sacred. You have to keep a fresh memory. Europe is seen as a lesser achievement and a failure. I recall that there are players, such as Fernando Torres, who left without every making it to Europe. You have to thank the Club for rallying and doing things the way they have, reinstalling themselves in another reality, which fortunately is in greater accordance with their history. There have been amazing players who have won titles after not having played here in Europe. This continues to be a big goal for Atlético de Madrid. Qualifying for Europe is our goal and we have a very important match against Hércules and we have to play as well as we can to achieve it.”
Regarding whether everything that has happened will affect the team, the coach said that “I hope not. The fans, who have been better than us all season, are smart and know what we’re playing for and it’s also their hope for next season. I haven’t seen a single difficult situation inside the Calderón. And I shouldn’t have to mention the lesson they gave us in Barcelona last season in the Cup final. I hope that we focus on that. For me, always in a second level behind the game, it will be a different day. I acknowledge that because this is my last game at the Calderón and after that, the ‘atléticos’, who I’ve always said are people who look at you honestly, have always shown me affection and support, but not only at the Calderón, but especially away from it. And during tough times, if something has kept us afloat, it’s been them. They know that this will be a strange match for me and I hope that we focus hard on the match and then that I have the chance to leave with the appropriate happiness on a day that will be special for me.”
The manager stated that “20 players have been called up to mobilize in the morning and then we’ll make decisions.”
Quique pointed out that “Godín can’t play. He made a good effort, as he does every week, and has been playing at a limit for several weeks and making an effort to play. Someone else, in whom I have lots of confidence, will play who will be very excited to do so.”
To finish, he admitted that he expects a very emotional game. “I hope to resist getting emotional. First I want to focus on the game and then there may be strong emotions. In any case, a very nice legacy will be left. After being so close to the cliff and relegation, a legacy of three finals, two titles, an updating of the history, the academy, and possible Europe will be left which, as I said early, isn’t small change. I’m going to be left with that, a deep sentiment and lots of appreciation, which is what they’ve shown me,” he concluded.
The first question was about whether he regretted any decision he’d made, specifically referring to Forlán’s not starting. “For me, for the decisions that I make about the group, I only take two basic things into account: availability and performance of the players. From there, I make decisions that I think are fair for the group. Regarding availability, you don’t have all the information because I’m the one who’s at 100% with them every day, but as far as performance, sure, you can make as many evaluations as I do. I base decisions on the group from the first moment and never on personal situations. And as I have 25 players, I make the decision to choose with as much fairness as possible, because the group respects you for the decisions you make and the fairness with which you make them. I’ll insist I’m referring to the group, not to a specific case,” he stressed.
He was asked about what happened on the coach returning from El Sardinero to the Sandtander airport and whether there was an argument with Forlán. “I didn’t come here to deny what’s been said. But not for any reason, but rather because it’s your information and even if it’s crazy I’m not going to get involved. Whoever knows Forlán’s and my manners knows that it’s unthinkable that we’d get so far as anything beyond an exchange of opinions. But if after so long you don’t know the way Forlán and I behave, it seems like such a huge atrocity that I can’t make a judgment on it. Now, it forms part of the ignorance about the person, the player and the coach. I’m not going to judge that. That’s information that is read, heard, now we’re going to move forward,” he asserted.
Whe he was again asked about Forlán, Quique responded that “we’re here to speak about the match against Hércules. There are much more important things at hand such as the game against Hércules, the goal that we’re trying to reach and, in some way, the excitement we feel about ending the season well.”
With respect to whether this could be his last press conference as the manager of Atlético de Madrid, he replied that “this isn’t my last press conference or my last game with Atlético de Madrid. Very soon there will be time to give thanks, speak about things and say what I’ve always said normally and clearly. I come to say the truth and at times the truth can be uncomfortable. It’s not time to talk about that. There are two games left and our goal is Europe and it’s sacred. You have to keep a fresh memory. Europe is seen as a lesser achievement and a failure. I recall that there are players, such as Fernando Torres, who left without every making it to Europe. You have to thank the Club for rallying and doing things the way they have, reinstalling themselves in another reality, which fortunately is in greater accordance with their history. There have been amazing players who have won titles after not having played here in Europe. This continues to be a big goal for Atlético de Madrid. Qualifying for Europe is our goal and we have a very important match against Hércules and we have to play as well as we can to achieve it.”
Regarding whether everything that has happened will affect the team, the coach said that “I hope not. The fans, who have been better than us all season, are smart and know what we’re playing for and it’s also their hope for next season. I haven’t seen a single difficult situation inside the Calderón. And I shouldn’t have to mention the lesson they gave us in Barcelona last season in the Cup final. I hope that we focus on that. For me, always in a second level behind the game, it will be a different day. I acknowledge that because this is my last game at the Calderón and after that, the ‘atléticos’, who I’ve always said are people who look at you honestly, have always shown me affection and support, but not only at the Calderón, but especially away from it. And during tough times, if something has kept us afloat, it’s been them. They know that this will be a strange match for me and I hope that we focus hard on the match and then that I have the chance to leave with the appropriate happiness on a day that will be special for me.”
The manager stated that “20 players have been called up to mobilize in the morning and then we’ll make decisions.”
Quique pointed out that “Godín can’t play. He made a good effort, as he does every week, and has been playing at a limit for several weeks and making an effort to play. Someone else, in whom I have lots of confidence, will play who will be very excited to do so.”
To finish, he admitted that he expects a very emotional game. “I hope to resist getting emotional. First I want to focus on the game and then there may be strong emotions. In any case, a very nice legacy will be left. After being so close to the cliff and relegation, a legacy of three finals, two titles, an updating of the history, the academy, and possible Europe will be left which, as I said early, isn’t small change. I’m going to be left with that, a deep sentiment and lots of appreciation, which is what they’ve shown me,” he concluded.
