Juanfran: “Confidence levels couldn’t be higher”

Atlético had a poor first half against Barça on Sunday but improved in the second period; what were your thoughts on the game?

You’re right, we saw two completely different Atléticos in either half. Barcelona came out very strong in the opening 45 minutes and had a few chances on goal but after the break we saw the trusty Atleti of old – the one we know. In the end we could even have levelled the game.

After losing to Barça, are Atlético still candidates to win the league, or is the plan to end the campaign in third?

Atleti are candidates to win and we are also on course to knock Madrid out of the Copa del Rey.

Do you think Sunday’s defeat at Camp Nou could have a negative influence on Thursday’s Cup tie at the Bernabéu?

No, I really don’t think so. Independently of what happened to us against Barça, Madrid want to knock us out of the Cup – but we won’t let them do that. After Thursday’s game we will be thinking about our league meeting with Granada at the Calderón.

You haven’t answered the question: do you think the team can respond after the disappointment of being convincingly beaten by Barça?

Our team has always stood tall and reacted in the face of adversity – it is what makes us stronger. We will make sure that we start Thursday’s game at the Bernabéu stronger than we did at Camp Nou. We’re not despondent; in fact confidence levels couldn’t be higher

But the team did seem down on the final whistle in Barcelona. How are the players feeling now?

We are a team of winners but of course, there is always a possibility of losing at Camp Nou. The defeat hurt us but as soon as any game is over we are thinking about the next one – and at the moment, it’s the Cup game against Madrid, then the league game against Granada.

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