Lopetegui: Real have got to improve everything
Julen Lopetegui has warned his Real Madrid side “have to improve in all facets” if they are to challenge Barcelona for the Primera Liga title, after seeing his side lose their first competitive fixture under his reign.
The former Spain manager pulled no punches as he assessed his team after Wednesday’s 4-2 extra-time defeat to local rivals Atletico Madrid in the Uefa Super Cup in Estonia.
Atleti’s Saul Niguez and Koke struck in quick succession in the additional period at Tallinn’s A. Le Coq Arena following a 2-2 draw in normal time.
Real had been 2-1 up, with Karim Benzema cancelling out Diego Costa’s first-minute opener and Sergio Ramos then converting a 63rd-minute penalty, before Costa netted his second of the contest to draw things level.
“We had good game phases but it was not enough,” Lopetegui said in his postmatch interview.
“We have to congratulate Atletico, I believe that they have won deservedly.
“We are not happy and the negative is that we have conceded four goals and this is not normal. This will have to be improved, without a doubt.
“We have to improve in all facets, we do not like when we make mistakes and we have to improve in everything, not only in individual errors.
“[It is a] feeling of frustration and sadness. But knowing that responsibility forces us to get up and try to improve and start the league as we want to start.”
Atletico manager Diego Simeone, who was forced to watch from the stands while serving the third match of a four-game touchline ban imposed on him after his sending off in the Europa League semi-final against Arsenal last season, expressed his delight.
The Argentine said: “Happy, once again, we were able to respond very well in a final, especially in Europe. This will make us stronger and we will celebrate it.”
“Today, we have to enjoy, no doubt. From tomorrow night we will start thinking about the league, which is going to be a very hard season”.
Simeone, who guided his side to the runners-up spot in La Liga last term as well as Europa League glory for a second time, are at Valencia on Monday.