Costa: "The point increases our desire to do well on Wednesday"

Jaume Costa was the starting leftback for Valencia CF at the Wanda Metropolitano, a ground at which he has yet to lose a game. The defender put in a solid performance against Atletico Madrid and believed the point earned against Los Colchoneros will help the team in their Champions League appointment with Lille in midweek.

“On the one hand, we leave here happy because of how we turned the game around,” he said after the match. “Despite going into halftime with the scoreline against us, we showed a will and a capability to give our all until the last minute.”

“In the second half we demonstrated play that could get us 3 points consistently at tough grounds. We have to be happy, because there were phases in the game in which we could have picked up the win. Besides this, we should be proud, because the point keeps us motivated and only increases our desire to do well on Wednesday.”

“The coach corrected a few things at half time, such as our passes between the lines, and we spoke about strategy and tactics,” he commented. “We’re here to carry out the coach’s orders and we need to adapt to what is required of each tactic.”

Asked about Kang In’s sending off for a mistimed challenge, late on in the match, Costa was philosophical.

“It’s happened to me so many times, and I’m not one to talk. At 31 years old and with so many games behind me, what I try to do is help out the younger players,” he explained.

“I tried to help him after what was a fairly absurd sending off, but I think that the incident will allow him to learn. It’s in the bad moments that you learn the most.”