Lopetegui: "We showed character and personality"

NEWS | 29/09/2018 | Borja Miranda

"Overall, we were the better side, but if you don't score, you don't win football matches", stated the Whites' boss.

Julen Lopetegui addressed the press in the media room at the Santiago Bernabéu in the aftermath of his side's goalless stalemate against Atlético Madrid, where he had the following to say: "We didn't win the game simply because we didn't manage to score, but overall, I think that we were by far the better side, particularly in the second half, in which we created several chances. After the break, we managed to pen Atlético back into their own half, overcame adversity and delivered a good performance. However, if you don't score, you don't win football matches".

"I take some big positives from tonight's game. Atlético are very good at counter-attacking and as a result of us losing possession, they posed a threat a few times in the first half, just as we did. When faced with difficulty, the team stood tall and improved, having had a days' less rest and with some absentees, and showed character and personality. We played well but failed to get the goal to make our dominance tell".

Vinicius Jr.
"We brought Vinicius Jr. on to exploit his pace. All of the players entered the final stages looking short of energy and we could hurt them with our pace. We introduced some quick players up top and it was a shame that we didn't manage to convert our chances".

WE FACED UP TO ADVERSITY AND PUT IN A GOOD PERFORMANCE.

"Each match is a conquest for everyone. LaLiga is competitive and long for everyone, and every game is extremely difficult. We don’t focus on the opposition, we know that it’ll be a long road and a difficult one. There’s a long way to go and we have to give our all, like in the second half today. I don’t think it's a two-team league. Atlético are a team settled in the elite of football, they’ve made incredible signings and retained top players and have a spectacular squad. That's why I'm satisfied, because we've been superior to a great team".

Problem with goals
"It’s true that we haven’t scored many goals in recent games. The numbers are there to see. But, apart for the first half in Seville, the attitude has been good and we’ve put in a good performance, playing great football and creating chances. The goals will come. We’ve had chances and they will come".

Injuries
"Bale had discomfort in his adductor at half-time and as a precaution he didn’t come out for the second half. We will test him tomorrow and we’ll see. We don’t want injuries, they’re not good. Isco had appendicitis, which is a shame, and we hope that Marcelo is back in a few weeks. It’s not good that we’ve got injuries and we will look for solutions".

Mariano
"I don't pay attentio to what the fans were calling for. We make the changes thinking about what the team and the match needs. Today required speed and that is why we went for Vinicius Jr.".

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