Carelessness cost us, says Real Madrid coach
Kevin Fylan
Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque accused his side of carelessness after they allowed AEK Athens to come back from two goals down to clinch a 2-2 draw in their Champions League Group C game at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.
"In the second half we were too deep and we let the Greeks take advantage of our carelessness," Del Bosque said after AEK had scored twice in the final 16 minutes to cancel out two Steve McManaman goals in the first half.
"We know that a game isn't won until the final whistle. We had our place in the second phase of the Champions League in play here."
Real remain on course for the second league stage of the competition, as they lead the standings in Group C with eight points, but Del Bosque was frustrated to see an opportunity wasted.
"Qualification is more complicated now," he said. "We've still got the situation in hand but we have to take care until we're mathematically safe."
Del Bosque took off Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Carlos and McManaman in the second half and Real's performance suffered as a result but the coach defended his substitutions.
"The changes were justified," he said. "Zidane was suffering from a slight injury, Roberto Carlos had been involved in a little argument with an opponent and changing Macca gave us the opportunity to give fresh breath to the right wing."
AEK coach Dusko Bajevic was delighted at the result and he praised his players for their refusal to accept defeat.
"We had a great second half," Bajevic said. "Coming back from 2-0 makes me very happy and I want to thank my players.
"It was a difficult game for us. Our forwards were isolated in the first half and we weren't quick enough to create chances but I made changes in the second to speed us up.
"It's practically an historic result for us. It wasn't a victory but to come back from two goals down at the Bernabeu and claim a draw is an important achievement."
