Quique Sánchez Flores: “I feel like we left two points behind”
“They hey was when it went from 0-1 to 1-1”
Quique Sánchez Flores, manager of Atlético de Madrid, appeared disappointed with the final result of the game against Espanyol. At his post-game press conference, he admitted that he felt like they’d lost two points after the way the game had developed. “It was a very intense match, good to watch, with two good teams on the pitch, but we well like we left two points behind. It was a very physical match and it wasn’t easy. The key was during the stretch that went from 0-1 to 1-1. I think that we could have had more control of the play. We looked for our strikers quickly, as they’re fast, and it was a very direct style,” he commented.
It was mentioned that it looked like Atlético de Madrid was settling for a draw at certain points. The ‘rojiblanco’ head coach denied that, saying “it’s not true. We obviously weren’t in a rush to take corner kicks when we were up 0-1. We ended up on their side of the pitch in the second half. We weren’t settling for anything. We had the best chances and it’s not easy playing on Espanyol’s half and not letting them create scoring chances.”
Concerning his sides’ two goals, Quique pointed out that they may have come off of Espanyol mistakes, but also due to good work from Atlético. “You have to work hard to make it to Espanyol’s goal. The first goal was fruit of very high-pressure and I think that to score the second goal you have to cause the error and then it was a marvellous play by Kun. We pressured well and that’s how we got the goals. You can call those mistakes, but we knew that they were going to send in long balls behind our backs for Osvaldo and that’s how they scored their goals,” he highlighted.
Playing the way the two squads did, they could both be in the Europa League next season. “We’re both teams that should be in Europe, but we don’t know what’s going to happen. There are six weeks left. We feel good,” he stated.
With respect to the play of Osvaldo, who scored on Atlético at the Calderón as well as Cornellà, the ‘rojiblanco’ head coach said that “I think Osvaldo is a great player. He’s very smart and makes good runs. We defended him well except on two plays. The two shots were good, although I have my doubts about the second goal.”
It was mentioned that it looked like Atlético de Madrid was settling for a draw at certain points. The ‘rojiblanco’ head coach denied that, saying “it’s not true. We obviously weren’t in a rush to take corner kicks when we were up 0-1. We ended up on their side of the pitch in the second half. We weren’t settling for anything. We had the best chances and it’s not easy playing on Espanyol’s half and not letting them create scoring chances.”
Concerning his sides’ two goals, Quique pointed out that they may have come off of Espanyol mistakes, but also due to good work from Atlético. “You have to work hard to make it to Espanyol’s goal. The first goal was fruit of very high-pressure and I think that to score the second goal you have to cause the error and then it was a marvellous play by Kun. We pressured well and that’s how we got the goals. You can call those mistakes, but we knew that they were going to send in long balls behind our backs for Osvaldo and that’s how they scored their goals,” he highlighted.
Playing the way the two squads did, they could both be in the Europa League next season. “We’re both teams that should be in Europe, but we don’t know what’s going to happen. There are six weeks left. We feel good,” he stated.
With respect to the play of Osvaldo, who scored on Atlético at the Calderón as well as Cornellà, the ‘rojiblanco’ head coach said that “I think Osvaldo is a great player. He’s very smart and makes good runs. We defended him well except on two plays. The two shots were good, although I have my doubts about the second goal.”