Quique S. Flores: “We’re far from our goal but all we can do is move forward”
The coach believes the team will bring out its pride and courage
Quique Sánchez Flores had no problem acknowledging Barcelona’s superiority. The manager admitted that “it’s difficult, it’s complicated. They play at an incredible pace. Football is a mental state, and as of right now the distance between the two of us is astronomical.”
The ‘rojiblanco’ head coach also explained why he left Forlán on the bench to start the match. “It comes from a preparation process. We had been analysing the match-up during the week and we thought that Fran Mérida was a good option to help out in the transition game, although it didn’t end up the way we’d imagined. We’re leaving here with our mental state a bit re-established, in the mood to change things and there was a gap during the second half in which we had a couple of chances that would have gotten us right back in it,” he pointed out.
Concerning the mental state of his squad, Quique highlighted that “we’re weak, and with the bad luck of not being able to enjoy important matches, such as this one of the one at the Bernabéu, that at other times we would have fought in other dimensions. Right now, we’re having a tough time taking the pitch, out of respect for our opponents.
'We’re not having the season we’d imagined, but we’re going to start another period against direct rivals and we want to qualify for European play. We’re far from our goals, because the objective was Champions spots, and now we have to make it to Europe in any way possible. Now we’re far from both options, but there’s nothing else we can do other than to move forward and lean on our pride and pedigree, and try to do things more confidently. We’ve already gone through some rough times, but we’ll keep fighting.”
With respect to Messi’s performance, Quique said that “he’s number one. Of all the things he did, I’ll stick with what he did defensively in front of our bench. If he’s capable of covering back the way he does, we’re speaking about the Di Stéfano of the 21st century. He’s a player who marks the difference. He’s superior. Nevertheless, it’s not Messi’s Barça, rather it’s all of their team. It’s universal. I think they’re a great squad that has the capacity to hypnotize their opponents. We’re up against something special.”
The ‘rojiblanco’ head coach also explained why he left Forlán on the bench to start the match. “It comes from a preparation process. We had been analysing the match-up during the week and we thought that Fran Mérida was a good option to help out in the transition game, although it didn’t end up the way we’d imagined. We’re leaving here with our mental state a bit re-established, in the mood to change things and there was a gap during the second half in which we had a couple of chances that would have gotten us right back in it,” he pointed out.
Concerning the mental state of his squad, Quique highlighted that “we’re weak, and with the bad luck of not being able to enjoy important matches, such as this one of the one at the Bernabéu, that at other times we would have fought in other dimensions. Right now, we’re having a tough time taking the pitch, out of respect for our opponents.
'We’re not having the season we’d imagined, but we’re going to start another period against direct rivals and we want to qualify for European play. We’re far from our goals, because the objective was Champions spots, and now we have to make it to Europe in any way possible. Now we’re far from both options, but there’s nothing else we can do other than to move forward and lean on our pride and pedigree, and try to do things more confidently. We’ve already gone through some rough times, but we’ll keep fighting.”
With respect to Messi’s performance, Quique said that “he’s number one. Of all the things he did, I’ll stick with what he did defensively in front of our bench. If he’s capable of covering back the way he does, we’re speaking about the Di Stéfano of the 21st century. He’s a player who marks the difference. He’s superior. Nevertheless, it’s not Messi’s Barça, rather it’s all of their team. It’s universal. I think they’re a great squad that has the capacity to hypnotize their opponents. We’re up against something special.”