Rodrygo, Asencio react after Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City – ‘We’re really frustrated’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s night against Manchester City got off to a perfect start when Rodrygo put the team ahead with a brilliant goal, but the visitors did not need long to mount a comeback.

By the time the half-time break arrived, the Merengues were already down by a 1-2 margin and could not recover from that deficit in the entire second 45 minutes.

They did indeed have their chances, but they simply could not capitalise on the moments to take away anything from the night.

The goalscorer’s interview

The only Real Madrid player to score last night, Rodrygo, opened up to the media after the game and expressed his disappointment for not coming away with all three points.

“It wasn’t enough. We’re really frustrated today because we played really well in the first half.”

“In the opening minutes, we wanted to start strongly, and we managed to do that. Then we scored a goal, but in the end, it wasn’t enough. We need to improve,” he added.

Rodrygo finally scored a goal. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

He then lamented how Real Madrid conceded on set-pieces to throw the game away.

“We know that these matches are always decided by details like set pieces. That’s what happened.”

“It frustrates us because we train these things a lot and then it happens in the match. We’re disappointed, but we have to keep going, that’s all we can do,” he added.

The Brazilian star then opened up on his goal and what it meant to put an end to his goal drought.

“I really needed to score. I always try to score, always try to help, and I wasn’t really at my best. These things happen in football. I have to stay focused and keep training.

“That’s what I’ve been doing all this time, knowing that things weren’t going my way.

“I’m sad about the defeat, but I hope that with this goal and this performance, I can get back to my best and help the team,” he added.

A touching moment

A touching moment arrived on the night when Rodrygo went over to hug Alonso after scoring his goal, and the player revealed why he chose to do so.

“It’s a difficult time. It is for us and it is for him too. Things aren’t working out and I wanted to show people that we are united with our coach. I know a lot of things are always said.”

“They often try to create a lot of things and I just wanted to say, that we were united and that we need this unity to move forward and achieve our goal,” he added.

Finally, Rodrygo admitted that the whistles at the Bernabeu were deserved and that the team must do better.

“It’s normal. We know that Madrid is a very demanding club, the fans are very demanding.”

“We’ve been here for many years and we know that’s what happens if we’re not doing well. It’s fair. We have to try to improve and try to get out of this situation,” he added.

Asencio’s thoughts

Real Madrid centre-back Raul Asencio was the next person to face the media and the youngster revealed how the game left him with ‘mixed’ feelings.

Raul Asencio started alongside Antonio Rudiger. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

“I have mixed feelings because we did so many things right. I think the team showed a different side to the one we saw in the last match, which was very important here at home with our fans.”

“Manchester City are a great side, but I don’t think they did everything they could to win the match today; we perhaps deserved more.

“But that’s football, the team that scores the most goals wins, and in this case, it was City. We need to improve,” he added.

On how it is difficult to play under the immense pressure at Real Madrid and the eternal spotlight being on them, he said,

“We’re being scrutinised every game. That’s always been the case at Real Madrid. We know the pressure we’re under in every game, whether things are going well or badly.”

“All I can say is that the dressing room understands the message Xabi Alonso is sending out, and the dressing room is behind him 100%.

“Day-to-day life at Valdebebas is great. We’re experiencing a slightly different or unusual situation in Real Madrid’s seasons,” he added.

“The only thing we players can do is change our attitude, which I think is the most important thing. What everyone wants to see is a change.

“Attitude is the main thing that needs to change, and I think we’ve seen a change today,” he elaborated on the need for an attitude shift.

Finally, he was asked if the team deserved a penalty for him being taken down in the Manchester City area, to which he said,

“I haven’t seen the replay. I felt myself being grabbed inside the area and obviously, due to the momentum of the grab, I fell.

“We were coming off a situation in the goal where Rüdiger was unable to jump because he was pushed.”

“Then the penalty is the same situation and in that case, it was given. These are refereeing decisions, we can’t focus on that, we have to focus on the football,” he added.

Speaking on how the team must not dwell on matters outside their control, Asencio concluded saying,

“These are things that don’t depend on us but on the referee and sometimes it will go the other way and sometimes it will go our way. We have to focus on our game and nothing else.”

Source: Real Madrid website