LOPETEGUI: 'WE WERE THE BETTER TEAM IN 75% OF THE TIE'

09/03/2021

'With the first half we played, it was hard to take going into the break 1-0 down'

Julen Lopetegui praised the team's character against Dortmund despite being eliminated: 'We had chances to go through and I feel we deserved to. We played great offensively and defensively, full of heart. It's a shame we didn't get our just reward. We were the better team in 75% percent of the tie. In the first half in Seville, one of the best players in the world punished us. He did as well today, although with a different feeling. Saying that, with the first half we played, it was hard to accept going into the break 1-0 down. We kept going until the end and Rakitić and Diego had chances to score the third at the end. We're sad and disappointed because we wanted to give our fans something to celebrate, but I'm happy with the courage, character, pride and football shown by my players today.'

The coach discussed the start of the second half: 'It was very surreal. The penalty call which came so long after the supposed foul, then it was retaken... it was a tough start and without them having attacked too much we were 2-0 down.'

And now, El Gran Derbi: 'We need to recover well and prepare for Saturday's match. We are well aware of what match it is and we need to prepare extremely well.'