Levante head coach Julián Calero spoke to the media after his side’s 4–1 home defeat to Real Madrid on Monday night, and despite the scoreline, he praised the bravery and identity of his players.
Calero acknowledged the risks his team took in going toe-to-toe with Madrid, even if it left them exposed:
“We have a team that needs to be brave. We played a one-on-one match in some situations, but that’s the soul of my players. We have to have an identity, even if Real Madrid punishes you. At 2–1, we could
have done things. But with the ‘what if’, we can’t just sit back. Real Madrid are fast and precise. Now, we move on to the next game.”
The Levante manager was keen to turn the page quickly, highlighting that the defeat came against an opponent in unstoppable form:
“We have to wipe this situation away with the windshield wiper. Real Madrid has won everything, all seven matches… That’s the reality right now. We have to clean things up quickly. I haven’t seen the lads downcast; we have to move forward and focus on the game against Getafe.”
Calero also had high praise for Madrid’s style of play under Xabi Alonso, particularly their passing game:
“Right now, Real Madrid is the best team in Europe at passing. They do it at such a high speed and with such precision that it’s very difficult.”
