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Martínez: "We have to value our spirit, persistence and concentration very positively"

The coach's view on a 1-1 draw away to Atletico Madrid

After RCD Espanyol's hard fought draw against Atletico Madrid, coach Diego Martínez talked to the media in his post-match press conference to analyse the performance from his side.

"We have to value our spirit, persistence and concentration very positively," he said.

"Coming to this stadium is tremendously difficult, and doing so when a man down has extra merit. We have earned a point that is worth much more than that in terms of our adaptation, belief and commitment."

Of the sending off for Leandro Cabrera in the first half, the coach commented that "I don't make assessments of refereeing decisions -neither when they benefit us nor when they hinder us. It is what it is, we accept it and adapt. Nobody can deny that Espanyol compete, regardless of the circumstances. Before the sending off we had started as we wanted and the game was going where we wanted... but after the red card we had to adapt and use commitment and organisation."

"The best thing today was our adaptation and organisation, responding to a difficult situation in which any team would have thrown in the towel and making it 0-1. I like the adaptation by the team to the game, but it is not our identity."

Martínez reflected that a draw was likely the fairest result.

"It would be unfair to only look at our positives. Atletico Madrid also had chances to score. You have to analyse things with objectivity. It is a point that we earned and deserved, and that's it. We must savour it, enjoy it and recover, because on Wednesday we have another equally tough battle."

"We have to keep in survival mode until the end of the season. That sharpens your commitment and concentration. There have been many changes and we are at the beginning of this process."