The ‘rojiblanco’ players, happy after snatching three golden points in Zaragoza
Reyes: “We earned an important victory”
The Atlético de Madrid players who appeared before the media in the mixed zone after the victory earned at La Romareda over Zaragoza were happy, while they highlighted that it was a crucial win to break the run of four consecutive losses.
José Antonio Reyes was the first to appear. The winger from Seville said that “the goal came off a counter-attack. The truth is that we work on all plays in training and it was a pretty good counter. It was an important victory and it will allow us to have a calmer week. We weren’t nervous. Nerves don’t exist in football. We were in a complicated situation and we had to get out of it.”
Jorge Resurrección, Koke, was like a kid with a new pair of shoes. He got his first start and, as a trophy, took home the jersey he had worn. “These are three crucial points. We were in a rut and we’re leaving content. I felt very comfortable on the pitch with these great teammates. Now I have to keep working hard to continue to earn myself the coach’s confidence. He congratulated me and told me that he was happy for me. I was a bit nervous when the gaffer told me that I was going to start, but I focused on the match and on playing as well as I could to help the team tally the three points.”
He admitted that he wasn’t used to playing on the wing. “I’m a central midfielder, but the coach placed me on the left and told me to play with freedom, moving around the whole pitch. I felt very comfortable. I’ll play wherever he wants me, obviously. Now we have to think about Sevilla, which are going to be a very tough side, but we’re going to try to win to keep climbing spots in the table and achieve our European goal.”
Regarding whether his presence is further vindication for the youth academy, Koke said that “it’s important for people from the reserve squads to show face with the first squad, such as De Gea or Domínguez. We have to keep going.”
Luis Amaranto Perea had a great performance in the centre of the defence alongside Domínguez. The Colombian was a fundamental piece to keeping the clean sheet at La Romareda. “Atlético played a great game. We fought hard. We knew that it was going to be difficult against a team also in need of victories. We’re leaving extremely happy for not having conceded and because at times we played quite well and, above all, for earning the win, as that’s the most important thing right now. When the team is compact and we defend and attack as a unit, in the end we’re much stronger. Obviously we have lots of potential up front and if we don’t give up goals, we have a great chance to win.”
The ‘rojiblanco’ defender acknowledged that minute 63 was the key of the match. It began with a scrum in front of the goal that was cleared away by the Atleti defence, and on the ensuing counter-attack Kun scored the goal. “It was a confusing play in which we couldn’t cut out and finally were able to get it out of there, and the goal came on the counter and made the difference. We should have scored a second goal, but it was a very tense match and everyone was taking close care of the small details. The important thing is that a goal was enough to win. Now we’re going into the week with lots of calm and will think about Sevilla and continuing to improve.”
Álvaro Domínguez was, again, a stalwart in the back line next to Perea. The two outside backs, Ujfalusi and Antontio López, also played at a high level, but Domínguez seemed to be on the same page as the Colombian. “The team was relaxed. We worked very hard from the defence to the strikers and at the half we were calm because we knew that the goal could come on a single chance and that’s what happened. Furthermore, we kept a clean sheet, which is always important to earning the three points. I try to perform as well as I can in each game and I feel proud to wear this jersey. Whenever you earn a win away from home and get a shutout it boosts your morale to keep fighting and approach the upcoming fixtures. The team had been working well, but had been lacking a bit of luck to come away with the victories.”
Sergio Agüero was the last to appear. Kun was the centrepiece of the victory with the goal which broke his goal-scoring drought, while also tallying his first ever against Zaragoza. “Thank God I was fortunate enough to score a goal, but the most important thing is that we played well and earned the three points. We needed them and now have to focus on Sevilla, which is a tough squad, but we’ll try to earn more points. We deserved this win and it will be good to boost the team’s morale and confidence. The whole squad did a great job. I’ve always said that if we have a good attitude it’s impossible for opponents to beat us easily. I’m happy with the win and the attitude of the entire team.”
José Antonio Reyes was the first to appear. The winger from Seville said that “the goal came off a counter-attack. The truth is that we work on all plays in training and it was a pretty good counter. It was an important victory and it will allow us to have a calmer week. We weren’t nervous. Nerves don’t exist in football. We were in a complicated situation and we had to get out of it.”
Jorge Resurrección, Koke, was like a kid with a new pair of shoes. He got his first start and, as a trophy, took home the jersey he had worn. “These are three crucial points. We were in a rut and we’re leaving content. I felt very comfortable on the pitch with these great teammates. Now I have to keep working hard to continue to earn myself the coach’s confidence. He congratulated me and told me that he was happy for me. I was a bit nervous when the gaffer told me that I was going to start, but I focused on the match and on playing as well as I could to help the team tally the three points.”
He admitted that he wasn’t used to playing on the wing. “I’m a central midfielder, but the coach placed me on the left and told me to play with freedom, moving around the whole pitch. I felt very comfortable. I’ll play wherever he wants me, obviously. Now we have to think about Sevilla, which are going to be a very tough side, but we’re going to try to win to keep climbing spots in the table and achieve our European goal.”
Regarding whether his presence is further vindication for the youth academy, Koke said that “it’s important for people from the reserve squads to show face with the first squad, such as De Gea or Domínguez. We have to keep going.”
Luis Amaranto Perea had a great performance in the centre of the defence alongside Domínguez. The Colombian was a fundamental piece to keeping the clean sheet at La Romareda. “Atlético played a great game. We fought hard. We knew that it was going to be difficult against a team also in need of victories. We’re leaving extremely happy for not having conceded and because at times we played quite well and, above all, for earning the win, as that’s the most important thing right now. When the team is compact and we defend and attack as a unit, in the end we’re much stronger. Obviously we have lots of potential up front and if we don’t give up goals, we have a great chance to win.”
The ‘rojiblanco’ defender acknowledged that minute 63 was the key of the match. It began with a scrum in front of the goal that was cleared away by the Atleti defence, and on the ensuing counter-attack Kun scored the goal. “It was a confusing play in which we couldn’t cut out and finally were able to get it out of there, and the goal came on the counter and made the difference. We should have scored a second goal, but it was a very tense match and everyone was taking close care of the small details. The important thing is that a goal was enough to win. Now we’re going into the week with lots of calm and will think about Sevilla and continuing to improve.”
Álvaro Domínguez was, again, a stalwart in the back line next to Perea. The two outside backs, Ujfalusi and Antontio López, also played at a high level, but Domínguez seemed to be on the same page as the Colombian. “The team was relaxed. We worked very hard from the defence to the strikers and at the half we were calm because we knew that the goal could come on a single chance and that’s what happened. Furthermore, we kept a clean sheet, which is always important to earning the three points. I try to perform as well as I can in each game and I feel proud to wear this jersey. Whenever you earn a win away from home and get a shutout it boosts your morale to keep fighting and approach the upcoming fixtures. The team had been working well, but had been lacking a bit of luck to come away with the victories.”
Sergio Agüero was the last to appear. Kun was the centrepiece of the victory with the goal which broke his goal-scoring drought, while also tallying his first ever against Zaragoza. “Thank God I was fortunate enough to score a goal, but the most important thing is that we played well and earned the three points. We needed them and now have to focus on Sevilla, which is a tough squad, but we’ll try to earn more points. We deserved this win and it will be good to boost the team’s morale and confidence. The whole squad did a great job. I’ve always said that if we have a good attitude it’s impossible for opponents to beat us easily. I’m happy with the win and the attitude of the entire team.”
