Interview

‘We need to turn the page as quickly as possible’

Lucas Torreira

Lucas Torreira knows that we’re in for a tough battle to secure Champions League football next season. 

Sunday’s Premier League defeat to Manchester City leaves us three points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea, and sees Manchester United leapfrog us into fifth. 

But with 13 games still to play this season, Torreira is expecting plenty of twists and turns to come. Here’s what he told the media after defeat at the Etihad:

on his assessment of the game…

Well it was a very difficult game to come up against one of the best sides in the Premier League. We knew that would be the case and there were times where we managed to stay in the game, we were sticking together and we pressed them. From there, we managed to get the equaliser in the first half. Then, because of things that happened in the game, they managed to get it to 2-1. Then in the second half it was a completely different game. We went looking for the equaliser. We couldn’t create the chances, they did, and they got the third goal.

on it being the worst time to concede just before half-time…

As you said, when we got it to 1-1, we were doing well. We were pressing in a nice way, using the space on the pitch well. Then of course the quality of their players meant they could get the second goal. really, that changed the game. That said, we managed to keep attacking. We tried to play our game and went looking for the equaliser but it wasn’t meant to be. That’s football and we’ve got a long way to go in the Premier League. We’re up there fighting and we want to try to achieve the best finish possible. 

on how hard the game was…

It was a very difficult game but we know that Man City are one of the best teams in the country. They’ve got some great players and they play some great football. That said, we prepared well and at times during the game we were able to stay with them. We matched them and we equalised to make it 1-1, but then we were unable to create chances after that. Then, because of how the game went, they got the second goal. That was telling. 

on whether the players were aware of the United result before kick-off…

No, we were just focused on our game because it’s a really important one for us. We know there’s other teams around us fighting for fourth and it’s going to be an intense battle for the Champions League spots, but there’s a long way to go. We’ve got a great group, very united, and I just think we want to try to improve as much as possible. 

on bouncing back as quickly as possible…

Today United have overtaken us. It’s important to turn the page as quickly as possible. This is football, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. The most important thing is that we keep trying to improve. There’s a long way to go in the Premier League, so it’s about trying to achieve our objectives in the time remaining. 

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