Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores conceded his side did
not start or end their clash with Sporting Gijon particularly well.
But Sanchez Flores was pleased with what he saw in-between as
the Rojiblancos claimed what he described as a "very important" 3-2
triumph.
Diego Forlan put Atletico ahead early on and although
Sporting drew level through a 34th-minute penalty, the Rojiblancos
still looked set to seal a comfortable win thanks to second-half
goals from Paulo Assuncao and Ibrahima Balde.
However, after Atletico had missed a host of chances to kill
the game off, Sporting set up a tense last few minutes when they
reduced the deficit to 3-2 in injury-time.
Atletico managed to hold on for the win, but Sanchez Flores
admitted they did not make it easy for themselves.
"We didn't play well in the first period, we were unable to
get out of our own half, but after the re-start the match changed.
We had more ball possession and were in Sporting's half for
longer," the Atletico boss said on his club's website.
"We suffered unnecessarily at the end. It was a bit strange.
We lost the ball during an attack and they scored their goal.
"In any case, those small details are easy to correct. It was
a testing match and we earned three very important points."
The victory means Atletico have won four of their five
competitive games in 2010, having endured a dismal time of it
before Christmas when they suffered their worst start to a league
season in 56 years and were also eliminated from the Champions
League in the group stages.
Atletico are still in the bottom half of the Primera
Division, but Sanchez Flores believes they are improving all the
time.
"The players are more confident, they believe in what they're
doing. They've regained the momentum and their positive mental
state," he said.
"The positive results have had an influence. The lads had
been working well, but the results weren't coming. Now after the
last few wins, we have more confidence and we believe in our
chances."
Sanchez Flores feels the home win over Sevilla on the first
weekend back after Christmas was the turning point.
Atletico trailed 1-0 at half-time in that match but ended up
winning 2-1 when captain Antonio Lopez scored with virtually the
last kick of the game.
"That win was very important because of the way we earned the
three points and for the attitude of the players. We feel that
we're getting better and more confident every day," Sanchez Flores
said.
