Lopetegui and Ramos disappointed with Madrid's first dropped points

Barcelona has been handed a two-point lead atop La Liga, with Sergio Ramos and Julen Lopetegui unhappy with Real Madrid's first draw.

Published : Sep 16, 2018 10:46 IST

Real Madrid's Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui.
Real Madrid's Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui.
lightbox-info

Real Madrid's Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui.

Julen Lopetegui and Sergio Ramos both refused to credit a comeback draw at Athletic Bilbao as a good result for Real Madrid.

Lopetegui's side dropped points for the first time this season after Isco's header cancelled out Iker Muniain's scrambled opener at San Mames on Saturday.

Earlier in the day Barcelona had also been forced to come from behind, but a 2-1 win at Real Sociedad means the champion has a two-point lead at the top. And Lopetegui, who missed the chance to become the first Madrid coach to win his first four league games since Manuel Pellegrini in 2009-10, could not be happy with his side's draw.

"It's a very difficult place to come. Athletic are a team that comes to look for you, that presser you. In the second half we improved. Madrid never consider a draw to be good, we performed in the second half and we have to keep working," Lopetegui said to Movistar Partidazo.

READ | Athletic Bilbao 1 Real Madrid 1: Isco rescues point for Lopetegui's side

Ramos echoed the comments from Madrid's head coach, accepting his side found it tough against a well-drilled Athletic outfit.

"We must always give the maximum for this club. We do not consider the draw as good, it is never good when you draw. There is a lot to improve," Ramos told Movistar, adding, "We knew it is one of the most difficult stadiums away from home, people push, but regardless of that, Athletic are a team that knows very well what they play. It is difficult to reach them and generate chances, then in the second half we overcame the pressure and got a result."

 

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment