We knew we were up against a team that has recently reached the semifinals and finals of the Champions League, a team that plays very well, packed with youth, with six or seven players under 24 years old who have a huge future ahead of them. We arrived with several defensive absentees. Despite the five missing players, the team showed strength; we had a mistake that could have led to our downfall, but a stunning goal appeared, showcasing good collective play. PSG is a team that knows how to attack well and created goal-scoring opportunities. It was nice to see how they played. In our match against Lille, we faced a similar situation where we needed to score three or four goals but lacked the finishing touch. Today, on the contrary, we attacked less yet scored goals, with a great performance from Oblak. I was thrilled to see Riquelme, Koke, Correa, Reinildo, Lino maintaining intensity, and we stuck to our plan. We continue to uphold our philosophy, whether it pleases people or not, and when we pursue an idea, there’s a chance to lose or draw, as happened in San Sebastián, but we still have a clear concept.
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Is this a victory that reflects the team’s DNA?
I told the players after our poor performance against Betis that we had an important discussion. From there, it shaped our intention to play against Vic, even if the first goal arrived in the 80th minute; it shows a team that wants to compete. The match against Las Palmas was a testament to our competitive spirit, and today was the same — the opponent may have been superior, but there’s something we’re striving for. We’ve been working for 12 years, building this situation, and this is the path.
Is this a victory that changes trends?
No, it’s an important victory, but there’s still a long way to go. Not everything was terrible after the Betis match, nor is everything fantastic now.
Can it help them see a new Atlético?
What I mentioned to your colleague is that it solidifies what works for us. We may face criticism for our match against Real Sociedad, but there was a clear idea, whereas against Betis we didn’t have a plan. We didn’t feel identified, but then it happened again in a stadium where winning isn’t easy, and we competed.
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Witsel stepped up in defense despite the absences.
We don’t know how much longer Axel has — it could be three years or just six months — and I tell him to enjoy it. He has talent and has learned to play as a libero. He had to play as a double center-back, which is even harder, and I’m very happy for him. Since arriving, he’s given us everything he has.
Do they need the best Oblak to compete?
After everything Oblak has given us over the years, it could be said that he shouldn’t be at this level anymore because he’s accustomed us to it. Hopefully, he can maintain that level, and his teammates will help him be even better.
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How many chances did PSG have?
It could be around ten or nine. That’s football. The match against Lille was similar; we had seven or eight goal-scoring opportunities but couldn’t convert. Ultimately, football is about efficiency. It’s lovely to attack from all angles, but efficiency is what positions you in any matchup. Today, PSG played better, and we had the efficiency we lacked against Lille.
Griezmann wasn’t having a great match but kept his place.
This time, Griezmann’s assist backs me up on this decision. It would be misleading to say that’s why he stayed on. However, we needed his effort to match that of the player, and Correa in for Julián isn’t the same as for Griezmann because he’s a midfielder who covers more ground and contributes defensively. With Correa and Julián, we were more offensive but less associative, and we never know what could have happened. Today it turned out well with the assist, but it wasn’t one of his finer performances. Having him on the field can always change something; there are times we remove him and realize we miss his final pass, even if we’ve had less possession.
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How does it feel to win 1-2?
I’m delighted for the team. We came from a Champions League defeat where we deserved to win based on our chances, but Lille was clinical despite the penalty awarded. This time, it was the other way around. We defended with tremendous collective effort against a well-attacking team. Oblak had a stellar night, and we managed the efficiency we lacked against Lille, compensating for that match.
Was the plan to sit back and counter?
That was evident in the first half; we had a counter that didn’t come to fruition. We found ourselves at 1-0, where we made an error in our exit, and they capitalized. The 1-1 was a great goal, showcasing strong offensive combinations. The second half was all about injecting energy into the team: Koke, Reinildo, Riquelme, Correa… Believing in the players we have. Gallagher was dead on his feet, and Lino came in. And so on. Griezmann always brings something different, and Correa, with his name Ángel for a reason.
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What can we say about Correa?
He’s special. He’s crucial for the team. Things always happen when he comes on. We argue; he wants to play 90 minutes, like everyone else, but when he comes on, the game changes. He’s really important.
Can they aspire to the top 8?
Calm down. This will be incredibly tough. It’s an important victory, especially after two defeats. Everyone saw us as out of sorts, but we need to stay composed. Now they’ll see us with enthusiasm. Not too much, not too little.
