LOPETEGUI: "IN MOMENTS OF BAD FORM, FOOTBALL FORCES YOU TO PERSEVERE AND IMPROVE"

Julen Lopetegui spoke to the club media after Saturday's defeat at home to Atlético: "A tough defeat, with a first half in which we didn't start the way we wanted to. We lacked composure and a mistake from a throw-in led to a goal right after Karim's substitution. In the second half we started well, we were on top of them and had chances, but they converted their first chance due to our mistake. The outcome was unfortunate because it was an open game, however, we took risks against a rival like Atlético and they deserved to take the points. We had our moments at the start of the second half but that second goal threw us off our rhythm."

On the state of mind of the group, he acknowledged that "they're in a bad way, as they have to be. We had three games at home and we wanted to give the fans something to cheer about. We have to take our medicine and focus on the next one. In moments of bad form, football forces you to persevere and improve and that's what we have to do." Finally, he was asked about Rekik's condition: "It looks like he's injured again with how he felt out there, but we have to wait for the tests".