NEWS | 04/02/2015
“It was an important match with which to increase our lead in La Liga”, said Arbeloa."This week's games are very difficult and important. Today we were made to work really hard and that's normal. On Saturday we have to send out a big statement by winning at the Calderón. We're really up for it and we're going to go all out. There's a long way to go in the league and we have our destiny in our own hands, but we have to win."
Contribution coming off the bench
"It was really cold, the substitutions were really fast and they were getting kicks in, so I had to come into it with intensity. These things sometimes happen in football and you have to be ready. It went well today. We have to help and Ancelotti told me that I played well, and to keep it up."
Arbeloa: "Four points give us confidence"
"I think it was a pretty important match, because we were up against a top team. We also had the chance to establish a significant lead at the top of La Liga and go into Saturday's match more at ease."
"It was a difficult match and now we have a cushion. If we win at the Calderón, it'll be a big step in La Liga. We can't say that we're going to win. At this moment in time we can't say that, but if we manage it we'll have a big gap between us and Atlético and it would be a real statement."
Nacho: "The cutting edge this team has is immense".
"Ramos and James are big losses, but we are lucky enough to have the best player in the world coming back. We go into the match at the Calderón really up for it."
Bale and Nacho's performance
"Bale should be completely calm. He has scored three goals in three finals, he has given us a lot and it'll end up going in for him. He is one of the best players in the world and we're lucky to have him with us. He has the complete confidence of the coach, his team-mates and the fans. Nacho, as always, put in a ten-out-of-ten display; that doesn't surprise me."
Nacho: "We needed to extend our lead"
"It was difficult. We knew that today's match was going to be vital, because we needed to extend our lead. Sevilla put in a good match. The cutting edge this team has is immense. We come away with three very important points and now we'll focus on Saturday."
Absentees at the Calderón
"They're players who have been playing at the club for a long time and we'll feel their absence. We have a lot of players out, but we're Real Madrid and we always go out to win. The coach has top players who are ready for anything. And he'll think about what he needs to do. It'll be a great game. The capital derby."
