Match analysis
“We couldn’t play any other way. They put us under pressure, but we always wanted to go forward. I’m pleased with how the team kept its composure during the match. If we had been more clinical in the final minutes, we could have taken a bigger lead, but I’m very satisfied.”
Personality and passion
“With an opponent like the one we have, it’s right that we focus on good recovery. It will be a demanding match. No one has extra energy at this stage. The substitutions helped us maintain the level in the game, and we’ve reached the end of the season in a good moment. In a setting like this, the team showed personality, joy, and passion. We enjoyed the match.”
Ochoa and Joaquín
“We needed to avoid suffering too much physical wear during the match. We’re talking about both quantity and quality. The fact that Joaquín only played 45 minutes today gives him a better chance of being ready for Wednesday. We felt that, with his directness, he could do damage in the second half. We have to keep going, there’s still a long way to go.”
The advantage
“We take a one-goal advantage with us, which is very important, but even more important is that everyone finished the match in good condition. Everyone is doing very well, and that is very satisfying because it continues in just a few days. Finishing with that freshness is a very positive sign.”
Fans
“Impressive. We are running out of words of praise, and I say this with genuine emotion and sincerity. We felt escorted from La Rosaleda. What happened at the airport was absolutely incredible. For some of us, myself included, these are new sensations. It’s unbelievable. Thank you to everyone who came, your support is fundamental.”
Return leg
“Yes, we would like a match like today’s to be repeated, with box situations and space to run into, where we could have closed the game. Las Palmas will probably take more risks now. They may even play with two strikers and change things, so we will have to be alert to what they do. They are a very well-coached team, and if they are here, it is for a reason.”
Caution and confidence
“In football, anything can happen. Anyone who tries to predict it is likely to be wrong. We’ve seen so many things in football that we must be very clear that there is still a long way to go. With caution and confidence, we need to stay focused and concentrate on what remains, which is no small task.”
Wednesday…and nothing more
“I’ve seen a team win a Champions League in a single minute. We have to give everything and more against a very tough opponent, and if we don’t bring out our best, we won’t get through the tie. Everything you did before counts for nothing. The beauty of football is that it is an unpredictable sport, and we have to be able to make good decisions. We could have taken advantage and scored a few more goals. But the most important thing we can focus on, and burn into our minds, is beating Las Palmas on Wednesday. Doing calculations gets us nowhere. We must put all our focus on that.”
Privileged
“We are privileged. It’s very beautiful when so many people are fighting for something, and being able to experience it so closely is exciting and unforgettable. As I said before, we had to give something from within and make sure that what we did on the pitch would make the fans feel excited again. With courage, joy, energy… And we were able to do it; we’ve seen that in recent days. We are many together, and we are very strong.”
