Real Madrid has snapped a dark moment in their history with a win and manager Julen Lopetegui believes that this is the return of Madrid’s dominance. Here’s a look at what he had to say after the match.
Los Blancos have broken out of their recent run, which saw them give up plenty of crucial points. After this weeks Champions League match against Viktoria Plzen, things seem to be heading in the right direction.
Like always, the manager took some time to speak to the press after the match. Julen faced a variety of questions from the present day match all the way into the next La Liga fixture. Real Madrid’s next game will be a league match against Barcelona this Sunday. Here’s a look at what he had to say.
Press Conference
It was obvious that Real Madrid has been struggling as of late, Lopetegui though saw the light at the end of the tunnel after Matchday 3 of the UCL. The manager said “We won a key Champions League game to break the bad run. We are slowly getting there and hopefully, when the team wins more it will settle things down.”
While good results have been few and far between he certainly has a good head on his shoulders. His understanding of the player’s mentality and mindset is a huge asset and that was clearly evident in his presser. The Spanish manager said “When there are weak moments due to not winning, its normal to feel more susceptible in any kind of situation. That’s why winning is so important. I’m keeping that in mind along with the positive aspects we saw today”
With the win now secure and under the player’s belt and “Then things change, that is how the game goes. And the triumphs bring a feeling of security, ease and knowing that we can perform”.
Lopetegui knows that the Bernabeu is a tough crowd and he made that clear in the presser. The manager mentioned that “The fans are always vocal and if we hadn’t done so well, who knows.”
Midfielder Dani Ceballos was left out of the matchday squad against Viktoria Plzen which was a surprise to many as he has performed quite well in the chances he has been given. Julen though was kind enough to give his reasoning. “Ceballos wasn’t included in the squad because we put Valverde in there. We’re delighted with Dani, but we really like Fede and he’s a lad that we want to continue see developing. We’re confident that he’ll be an important player.”
Lucas Vazquez got a big start for Real Madrid playing as a right back. Julen clearly thought this through and was proud of his decision. “Lucas played because we anticipated that it’d be the sort of game in which we needed an attacking player who could take advantage of the spaces. He made his mark going forward down the right”.
Last but not least is the next match which will be taking place this Sunday. It’s not just any kind of match though, it the first edition of the Clasico in La Liga, this season. The team are “really excited about on Sunday and we’ll prepare for it in the best possible fashion.”