Andrés Iniesta
“It was a difficult loss, seeing how equal the league is right now. Three points missed, with the league how it is, it’s important. I don’t know if this is a step back, but the feelings after the match aren’t good. We didn’t interpret the game like we were supposed to, and we paid for it. Real had a better approach. It hurt us they were so comfortable with the ball. Real are always a tough team, and I’m mad about such a hard defeat. Real played really well. They were better than us, we were always trailing them.”
“This defeat shouldn’t make us give up. We have to work hard and turn this situation around. There are many points left, and we have games against direct rivals.”
Víctor Valdés
“It was a very important match, but in the end they defeated us. They were more intense, and they deserved the win.”
“La Real pressured us from minute one. If you can’t overcome that intensity, you don’t win. We have to analyse what we didn’t do well in order to improve. We will approach the rest of the matches of the season as if they were finals.”
However, he did defend any selection issues. “Which ever player on this squad knows the boss wants a passing game, so it’s the same whoever he selects.”
Gerard Piqué
“It wasn’t to be. They played a great game. We tried, but it wasn’t our day.”
Asked about conceding three goals, he said, “That something that can happen with the game is at 2-1. You go attack. We tried to tie it up and it didn’t happen They created a lot of space and that was difficult for our defense. It’s the same losing by one or two. We need to analyze why things didn’t happen for us. Now we have a week to recuperate and reflect.”
“We’re just one game off being league leaders so it’s not too troubling. These things can happen, when you attack it’s possible for them to score. Sometimes you don’t feel comfortable on the pitch, and you can’t maintain possession. Their second goal was a real blow to us. It’s the first time we are behind, but we cannot worry excessively. We have direct matches versus our rivals. ”
