The Atalanta manager returns to Italy with a bitter taste: “We could do much better, but I would make the same decisions”
Are you satisfied with your players?
I would make the same decisions again. We gave away the first three goals between round trips, that complicated everything for us. We had the goal of reaching the second half alive, but we made life difficult for ourselves, it was a shame.
What does this Champions leave them?
It was a fantastic experience for the whole club. We must feel satisfied, we eliminated Ajax, playing a difficult group with Liverpool and that elimination leaves a bitter taste because we felt that we could do better.
Will not playing the Champions League reinforce you in Calcio?
We still have Serie A and the Cup final in May, now we are going to put the energy left by this tie to get another qualification for the Champions League. It will not be easy.
Why didn't it start with Zapata?
Duván had some physical problem, my plan was to have more chances in the second half and get to extra time, maybe. I regret the goals we conceded more than other things.
There was a very big difference with Madrid's technique.
When I say that we did not play the game we expected, it is in this sense, we played badly on a technical level, it is what makes me sad.
Muriel: “I was impressed by the tranquility of Madrid”
What game was it?
The 1-0 error is a very big disappointment, we were playing the game we had planned. We could start squeezing in the second half, we needed two goals anyway, but the 2-0 cut off our legs.
With Zapata it would have been another game, did you feel more alone?
No, I always had a partner close by, it was not like that. He did a different job today compared to when we played with two forwards, but I don't think it would have changed much.
What impressed you about the Madrid players?
Without a doubt their ability to play well also when we pressed, they managed to get out of the pressure easily. It's something that sticks with you, like their calm with the ball despite playing a tie that, if they lost it, would have meant huge problems for them. In Calcio you hardly ever see players with this quality.