Quique S. Flores: 'We have to bring a lot of intensity to the match”
The manager highlighted that Forlán won’t have problems playing
Quique Sánchez Flores knows that his team has to take things step-by-step and focus on their upcoming league fixture, so doesn’t want them thinking beyond this Saturday’s clash against Sevilla. “I’m only thinking about getting a win over Manzano’s squad. We’ve had the idea of winning a pair of games for weeks. We got the first win against Real Zaragoza and now we’re looking for the second victory. A win here would give us a very big push against a very tough team. We’re obligated to play a good game in front of our supporters. We have to go with competitive tension, but without competitive stress,” he stated.
Regarding the physical state of Diego Forlán, who had to leave Wednesday’s training session early with a sprained ankle, Quique pointed out that “he’s fine, he trained normally and he won’t have problems playing.”
The head coach recalled the recent match-ups with Sevilla and assured that “they’ve always been very special. We’ve seen good duels and great match-ups between players. They’ve been very intense clashes. We want to play without making mistakes, with lots of energy, but not taking it to the point where it leads us to making mistakes. They’re an experienced team that knows how to compete to the limit. We’re looking forward to it, the players have trained well and are confident going into the match.”
The manager of the ‘rojiblanco’ squad analysed the virtues of Sevilla and said that “I think they’re a great team. They’ve competed very well in the last ten years. The structure of the Club is very solid. They’ve a very tough team. They played a great qualifying round against Oporto but were unlucky. They’re in the same position as us: with their goal focused on La Liga. We still have time to achieve our goal, but to do that we have to beat Sevilla.”
In analysing the mental state of his squad, Quique explained that “they’re all in a better mood. Now we’re working with the optimism that we were lacking in recent weeks.”
Quique Sánchez Flores wanted to make it clear that “whoever says that I’m negotiating with Sevilla doesn’t know me. When I have a contract with a club, I never negotiate with another. Besides, Sevilla has a great manager in Manzano, for whom I have lots of respect. I truly respect the ‘rojiblanco’ organization and I’ll never speak with another while I’m coaching this Club. When the season ends, we’ll assess the situation and speak about the future when the time comes.
“We have to give before we can receive. We can’t ask more from the people surrounding the squad, fans, executives, media… The front office has had amazing patience with the team. We have to look at ourselves in the mirror and see what we’re doing wrong. We know that we can do better. There are three months left before the season ends and we have to give everything we have,” he asserted.
The coach is clear that there will be a fine atmosphere in the Vicente Calderón stands. “It’s going to be scathing. There’s always lots of retrospective thought in Atlético-Sevilla matches. We have to bring a lot of intensity to the match; that could be a good way to develop the game the way we want to.”
With respect to the points lost by the team to direct rivals, Quique replied that “we’ve lots games against opponents who are far from us, although I’m not thinking about that as we go into the Sevilla match.”
The manager of the ‘rojiblanco’ side also spoke about the incident that he had with Gregorio Manzano in the first round encounter. Quique assured that “it’s been forgotten; we get along well and I respect him as a coach. He’s had a brilliant career and I have more to learn from him than he does from me.”
In the last match of the ‘rojiblanco’ squad, Koke got the start. Quique explained that “he’s training really well and that’s why he started against Real Zaragoza. Players win me over in training. Yeah, plus he has the club badge engraved on his heart, and that’s much better. He’s a guarantee.
“We only think about the next game. My players have short-term goals. We don’t have to think about what might happen four matches down the road. I know the group and I know that they’re only thinking about the short term,” Quique Sánchez Flores finished.
Regarding the physical state of Diego Forlán, who had to leave Wednesday’s training session early with a sprained ankle, Quique pointed out that “he’s fine, he trained normally and he won’t have problems playing.”
The head coach recalled the recent match-ups with Sevilla and assured that “they’ve always been very special. We’ve seen good duels and great match-ups between players. They’ve been very intense clashes. We want to play without making mistakes, with lots of energy, but not taking it to the point where it leads us to making mistakes. They’re an experienced team that knows how to compete to the limit. We’re looking forward to it, the players have trained well and are confident going into the match.”
The manager of the ‘rojiblanco’ squad analysed the virtues of Sevilla and said that “I think they’re a great team. They’ve competed very well in the last ten years. The structure of the Club is very solid. They’ve a very tough team. They played a great qualifying round against Oporto but were unlucky. They’re in the same position as us: with their goal focused on La Liga. We still have time to achieve our goal, but to do that we have to beat Sevilla.”
In analysing the mental state of his squad, Quique explained that “they’re all in a better mood. Now we’re working with the optimism that we were lacking in recent weeks.”
Quique Sánchez Flores wanted to make it clear that “whoever says that I’m negotiating with Sevilla doesn’t know me. When I have a contract with a club, I never negotiate with another. Besides, Sevilla has a great manager in Manzano, for whom I have lots of respect. I truly respect the ‘rojiblanco’ organization and I’ll never speak with another while I’m coaching this Club. When the season ends, we’ll assess the situation and speak about the future when the time comes.
“We have to give before we can receive. We can’t ask more from the people surrounding the squad, fans, executives, media… The front office has had amazing patience with the team. We have to look at ourselves in the mirror and see what we’re doing wrong. We know that we can do better. There are three months left before the season ends and we have to give everything we have,” he asserted.
The coach is clear that there will be a fine atmosphere in the Vicente Calderón stands. “It’s going to be scathing. There’s always lots of retrospective thought in Atlético-Sevilla matches. We have to bring a lot of intensity to the match; that could be a good way to develop the game the way we want to.”
With respect to the points lost by the team to direct rivals, Quique replied that “we’ve lots games against opponents who are far from us, although I’m not thinking about that as we go into the Sevilla match.”
The manager of the ‘rojiblanco’ side also spoke about the incident that he had with Gregorio Manzano in the first round encounter. Quique assured that “it’s been forgotten; we get along well and I respect him as a coach. He’s had a brilliant career and I have more to learn from him than he does from me.”
In the last match of the ‘rojiblanco’ squad, Koke got the start. Quique explained that “he’s training really well and that’s why he started against Real Zaragoza. Players win me over in training. Yeah, plus he has the club badge engraved on his heart, and that’s much better. He’s a guarantee.
“We only think about the next game. My players have short-term goals. We don’t have to think about what might happen four matches down the road. I know the group and I know that they’re only thinking about the short term,” Quique Sánchez Flores finished.
