Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone was hopeful after his team lost 4-3 to Girona on Wednesday night.
Alvaro Morata delivered a hat-trick for Madrid, but Girona won due to an injury-time winner from Ivan Martin.
Simeone said: “I always look at the positive side, we didn’t start well, they were superior for 30 minutes but when we attacked the goals came, there was danger, we were able to tie and we had a great second half.
“We made a huge effort that led to making the changes because I saw the players were very tired. Last play, their goal and all that remains is to congratulate them, with this forcefulness they are going to do very well.
“We were not strong enough in defence to resolve some plays that ended in a goal.
“Today I saw a huge effort. The work throughout the second half was very positive. Defeat is negative and losing to a rival that is going to be direct for the Champions League. We were not forceful like them and we are congratulating our rival because it was a great game.”
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