Ujfalusi: “We want to finish the year well and we have three games to do so”
Ujfalusi: 'Surely we'll beat Deportivo and start a new winning streak'
Tomas Ujfalusi appeared before the media after Tuesday’s training at the Majadahonda Sports Complex. The Czech defender spoke about the week that the team went through with three defeats, two in La Liga and one in the Europa League, and also showed his optimism about the squad reaching their goals for this season.
He was asked if last week was the worst week since he’s been at Atlético, with those three consecutive losses to Espanyol, Aris and Levante. Ujfalusi responded “I don’t think it was the worst week. It was a tough week because we can’t be losing three matches in-a-row. The worst was the loss to Levante, in which we weren’t aggressive, we didn’t create chances and it was a poor match in general. Levante beat us with superiority. We came out well in the other two, enjoying many chances but we made individual mistakes and that’s what we have to avoid. We have to stick together because we’re humans and we can make mistakes,” he stated.
With respect to all of the criticism that is falling on the defenders, the Czech player highlighted that “you have to say that the criticism towards me started in San Sebastián, where I erred on the first goal. Then there were tow other mistakes against Espanyol and one against Aris. So you have to say, sure, there’s criticism, but we have to try to make sure it doesn’t happen again, and stay together in bad times.”
Concerning what exactly Quique Sánchez Flores has asked his defenders to correct, the Atlético ‘17’ said that “we’re training with a four-man defence, without central midfielders, but we all know that the defence isn’t just four guys because it starts with the strikers. We’ve played very well in many games. From my point of view, I don’t think that we’re bad. Espanyol created four chances and scored three goals, as did Aris. We have to pay attention to the small details and be more stuck in to the match.”
Regarding whether nerves might be brewing outside of the team, in the press or in the supporters, the Czech footballer gave his opinion from inside the team. “We have to be confident in ourselves. We know that we have a good squad with the players that have come this year and we have to keep working. The pressure is normal in a team such as Atlético de Madrid and you have to be used to it. We all want to get into Champions League for next season. Now we want to finish the year off well and we have three matches to do so, two in league play and one in the Copa del Rey. Surely we’ll beat Deportivo on Saturday and start a new winning streak,” he asserted.
He was asked whether there is a crisis in the team due to the recent negative results. “I don’t think there’s a crisis. These are bad and difficult times for the squad and for the Club. We all want to make it to Champions and finish the year thinking about fourth or fifth place. Now the fourth and fifth places are a big further away but I’m calm because there are lots of matches left. And we want to begin by winning this Saturday.”
With regards to the relationship of the squad members with Quique Sánchez Flores, the ‘rojiblanco’ defender left it clear that “my relationship with the manager is the same as the first day I arrived. Both he and we act like professionals. I’ve never seen bad behaviour.”
He was asked if last week was the worst week since he’s been at Atlético, with those three consecutive losses to Espanyol, Aris and Levante. Ujfalusi responded “I don’t think it was the worst week. It was a tough week because we can’t be losing three matches in-a-row. The worst was the loss to Levante, in which we weren’t aggressive, we didn’t create chances and it was a poor match in general. Levante beat us with superiority. We came out well in the other two, enjoying many chances but we made individual mistakes and that’s what we have to avoid. We have to stick together because we’re humans and we can make mistakes,” he stated.
With respect to all of the criticism that is falling on the defenders, the Czech player highlighted that “you have to say that the criticism towards me started in San Sebastián, where I erred on the first goal. Then there were tow other mistakes against Espanyol and one against Aris. So you have to say, sure, there’s criticism, but we have to try to make sure it doesn’t happen again, and stay together in bad times.”
Concerning what exactly Quique Sánchez Flores has asked his defenders to correct, the Atlético ‘17’ said that “we’re training with a four-man defence, without central midfielders, but we all know that the defence isn’t just four guys because it starts with the strikers. We’ve played very well in many games. From my point of view, I don’t think that we’re bad. Espanyol created four chances and scored three goals, as did Aris. We have to pay attention to the small details and be more stuck in to the match.”
Regarding whether nerves might be brewing outside of the team, in the press or in the supporters, the Czech footballer gave his opinion from inside the team. “We have to be confident in ourselves. We know that we have a good squad with the players that have come this year and we have to keep working. The pressure is normal in a team such as Atlético de Madrid and you have to be used to it. We all want to get into Champions League for next season. Now we want to finish the year off well and we have three matches to do so, two in league play and one in the Copa del Rey. Surely we’ll beat Deportivo on Saturday and start a new winning streak,” he asserted.
He was asked whether there is a crisis in the team due to the recent negative results. “I don’t think there’s a crisis. These are bad and difficult times for the squad and for the Club. We all want to make it to Champions and finish the year thinking about fourth or fifth place. Now the fourth and fifth places are a big further away but I’m calm because there are lots of matches left. And we want to begin by winning this Saturday.”
With regards to the relationship of the squad members with Quique Sánchez Flores, the ‘rojiblanco’ defender left it clear that “my relationship with the manager is the same as the first day I arrived. Both he and we act like professionals. I’ve never seen bad behaviour.”