Oblak concerned Atlético freefall may spoil their Champions League chances
Atlético Madrid’s goalkeeper spoke after the team’s 2-0 at San Mamés which threatens their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Jan Oblak acted as spokesman for Atlético Madrid following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at San Mamés - a result which complicates their chances of logging the fourth Champions League slot. Atleti are fourth in the table on 61 points but if Betis beat Getafe at the Coliseum later on Sunday, they will just one point behind. Oblak admits he cannot pinpoint the root of the team’s problems this season and has called for a united response in the four games that remain.
What happened to Atleti against Athletic?
“We started the game badly and you can’t enter a game like that, hot-headed and insecure. You only make it more difficult for yourself to turn the score around. We had chances later on, they had a little more luck, but they were the better team which is why they won”.
Why is the team so insecure?
“I wish I knew. Then we could resolve it. I can’t understand it, inside the dressing room everything’s fine then as soon as we go out onto the pitch we have two players booked within five minutes and the game is suddenly complicated. I don’t know where our heads are at, but we were not focused from the start and that’s not good. We keep saying we have to do better, but if we don’t then we’ll only have ourselves to blame”.
Do you think the team likes bite too?
“I have no answer to what’s happening. Since I have been at the club, this has never happened. All of the players have personality and desire to win, but it’s not being translated out on the pitch. I have no idea why. We have to improve, isolate the problem, because we have four games left and we need to qualify for the Champions League because if we don’t, we’ll have more problems”.
Are you worried that Atleti might not secure fourth place?
“I’m not worried, but it’s concerning when you are not starting a match well and putting in a good performance. It leaves a bad taste, we have another game next week. We need to win all four games to be guaranteed of qualifying for the Champions League, and we have to do much better”.