Getafe Coach Cosmin Contra has applauded the lengths to which Atletico Madrid will go to win a game after seeing his side lose to the champions.
Mario Mandzukic scored the only goal of the game late in the first half and Contra said after the final whistle that the champions’ will to win is one of their most impressive qualities.
“I know Atletico are a team that plays to win games,” he noted, according to AS.
“If they have to do things to the limit they will. If they have to make two fouls in the 43rd minute in the penalty area to score, they do it.
“Atletico concede few goals because that’s how they understand football and they’ll do more of it in future games. Their aim is three points.”
Contra added that he felt a draw would have been a fair result after his side’s performance, although he admitted Getafe struggled to make an impact in the first half.
“We didn’t do enough to lose the game and on another day could have taken a draw,” he continued.
“But in the first half we were timid in our offence and we didn’t find a way to hurt them. We knew if Atletico went in front they know how to play with the result and we didn’t want that to happen.
“We defended the set-pieces well until the goal and in the second half we did a lot to deserve the draw. I’m proud of the players and very happy with the work and the effort against the champions.”
Getafe lost Alexis to a straight red card just before the hour mark but Contra declined to speak about the incident, insisting he hadn’t seen what happened.
“When I see it, I’ll talk, but these things have to stop happening,” he conceded.
