Sevilla coach Francisco Javier Garcia Pimienta, appeared at a press conference after his team’s 4-3 defeat against Atletico Madrid. The coach thinks that the ‘Colchoneros’ are in a group of title contenders that also includes Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Sevilla coach Javier Garcia Pimienta stated, after losing (4-3) to Atletico Madrid in a match they were leading 1-3, that the opponent’s comeback “was a merit of Atletico, the most in-form team in the championship”.
“It was a pity because, in many moments, we were superior against a great opponent that has an incredible talent. They had to give their best to beat us. We started the game poorly, but we were able to come from behind. Atletico’s changes came in with a lot of energy. Atletico has an impressive squad, to make two teams. It was their merit,” explained the Sevilla coach.
“They have a lot of quality. It was a shame because we made a great effort. We had all the attitude in the world. We played a great game, generating dangerous situations. We were close to scoring the 1-3 in the first half. But the reality is that we played against Atletico, which is the most in-form team in La Liga. They have a very well-balanced squad to be able to play two teams and the stadium pushes a lot”, he added.
Asked if he sees Atletico as a contender for the league title, Garcia Pimienta replied that, “absolutely, yes”. “It’s clear that Atletico, Real Madrid and Barcelona are the title contenders,” he added. “This defeat has to strengthen us because we have been able to put the most in-form team in the competition in danger. This is the way. With good play, with personality, with suffering, we can compete against opponents of any entity, as we have seen today,” he concluded.