Lopetegui: "This is tough to take: we didn't deserve this scoreline"
The coach, who is under serious pressure to turn the situation around at Real Madrid, felt the result flattered their opponents
He's still the Real Madrid coach as it stands and Julen Lopetegui didn't shy away from facing the media after a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Barcelona. "In the second half we had Barça under control, they weren't hurting us and we could've easily equalised - and even gone ahead in the match." Modric's effort came back off the post when the score was 2-1 to Barça. "In football, it's all about fine margins and when Barcelona scored their third goal it ended our hopes (of a comeback). It changed the game."
When asked how he was feeling right now, Lopetegui was honest. "I'm sad, as is everyone in the changing room and the group in general. It's a bitter pill to swallow and (the scoreline) is excessive in relation to what we deserved."
It was no surprise that questions about his future soon appeared. "I've got the energy to keep managing this group. I don't have anything to say against them and in my head the focus is entirely on lifting the morale of my players who didn't get what they deserved tonight. They stood up and made a great effort."
"This team has a future. We're in October and I'm sure the second half of the season will be a lot better and Madrid will have something to celebrate."
In regards to what he could change about the match, Lopetegui said: "I'm sure we could've held onto the ball better in the first half, just as we did in the second, creating that instability in Barça. However it has to be said they were more clinical on the counterattack (than we were)."
When asked if this might be the last time we see Lopetegui as Madrid's coach: "I'm not the one who makes the decisions."
