Quique: “We have to clench our teeth until it hurts”

Did the party go by details?

For details that we have delivered with tremendous ease. We have lost our memory of where we were. We have loosened and given wings to the rival in two situations under control, such as a set piece and a throw-in that led to an extreme situation. A rival that does not shoot us on goal again throughout the game. We have given away twenty minutes and that makes us weak. Either we recover our harmony and our sharp fang or in the end we will become a nice team, but dedicated in competitions. We have to change.

Was little played in the second half?

We had a very different idea of ​​the game. After fitting in, we continue with the same plan, trying to reach the opposite goal as best we can. We are not going to complain about playing games because we are a team that does it and does it well from a clean and sporting aspect. It is part of football and if it suited Espanyol, it did very well. Managing the game and the tactical foul is the logical thing to do and what we have done many times.

Did you expect a Espanyol so plugged in from the start?

Completely. We were clear that the start was going to be full of rebellion after such a difficult schedule that it harmed them. We knew that they would find the faith necessary to harm us. The pity is having allowed Cabrera to finish off alone and that a throw-in becomes so difficult. We cannot grant that. If we open that door, anyone can come in.

Is the cause of fitting in so easily a lack of concentration?

Definitely. If they let us finish off alone, we think there was a lack of concentration, not that we did it very well. Soccer is a game of mistakes and there are many. Today they are repeated mistakes that take away our guarantee of effort and success. We fight against the aura that things are much better than they were, but that doesn’t guarantee anything. There is a lot of league left and we have to grit our teeth until it hurts as we have done for three months to be competitive again.

What did you feel when you returned to this stadium?

Sympathy. I made many friends here. It is a historic club. I was very happy for two years in Barcelona and I will always have that good memory of a beautiful stage.