Lowly Albacete defeat Atletico Madrid in Copa Del Rey first-leg – La Liga News
Atletico Madrid lost against Segunda Division B side, Albacete SAD, in their Copa Del Rey first leg fixture. Goals from Antonio Calle and Zurdo consigned the Capital club to a humiliating defeat.
Gregorio Manzano’s men will have to do it all in the second leg at Vicente Calderon on December 13. Atletico have struggled to put together a decent run of results, however, Manzano has reassured that they have plenty of time to make up for their mistakes.
Los Rojiblancos failed to overcome the resilient home team with the manager citing lack of man power for the awful result against an un-fancied side.
After the defeat, a gallant Manzano stated that the result was out of their plan, however, he did not take credit away from Albacete. The former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sevilla-FC-c40484 tactician congratulated La Queso Mecanico for their efforts.
Manzano accepted that their failure to win was an upset due to the difference in pedigree of the two squads, before going on to praise the attitude of the hosts.
He remarked that they were tactically on spot and played with a higher intensity.
"We were favourites because of the difference in class, but sometimes the opponent is right and we must congratulate a team like Albacete who had a higher intensity than us," he said.
Manzano also reaffirmed the clubs desire to progress further in the knockout competition. He pointed towards the return leg at http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vicente-c36001 Calderon and stated that they have ample time to reverse the tie.
Reflecting on the events of the match, he commented that two events of the match changed the whole dynamics, the missed penalty and the expulsion of Miguel Nunez.
"We lost the match because of two key plays that marked the match: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Adrián-c3701 Dominguez’s missed penalty and the expulsion," he added.
Clearing the situation about Jose Antonio Reyes’ absence, he stated that he took a different approach to the match after going down two goals. Manzano commented that he considered Pedro Martin as a better choice at that moment, given his attacking pedigree.
"We needed other players after the two-nil, I had to put three players and I decided to go for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pedro-c29582 Martin, who is an attacking player," Manzano clarified.
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