After seeing his Sevilla side mauled 4-0 by Atletico Madrid, Michel rued Federico Fazio’s early red card and the penalty against as decisive actions.
The defender was shown a straight red in conceding a 20th-minute penalty converted by Radamel Falcao to kick-start Atleti’s four-goal win, compounded for the visitors by two further red cards – one from the bench – late on in the second half.
“Without wanting to justify the defeat, the truth is that what happened in those fateful few minutes determined the game,” stated Michel.
“Until then, nothing had happened and since then everything went against us, with the own goal and more being expelled.
“Sevilla have not been good. From there it is true to say that we played badly. We did not defend, at the collective or individual level and everything was against us.”
Even so, everything went against Sevilla as much as it did because of their opponents’ strength, suggested Michel.
“Atletico is a rival for the top of the League, not for European places. As we have seen so far they are a team to fight for first place.
“They now have the strength of a big team. They are fighting with Barcelona and already they have a large gap over Madrid.
“The difference between great teams and those that are not is the strength and punch and Atletico have both.
“Nothing happened in the game until the penalty and red card and then that determined everything, but what happened next also speaks of the strength of Atletico.
“We have to move forward without disappointment. The League is very long and we must move forward.”
