The late strike was a painful outcome for Manolo González’s side, who believed their performance deserved more. Diego Simeone, meanwhile, was pleased that Atletico Madrid continued pushing until an opening finally appeared.
González felt his players had followed the plan required to compete against one of LaLiga’s strongest sides, but regretted the missed opportunities and the manner in which the decisive goal arrived.
“I’m frustrated because, in the end, we played the match we needed to play,” he said. “Atlético Madrid demand that from you because, in transition, with balls in behind, one-on-one situations and their general play, they have so many solutions.”
González added that he had discussed Atlético’s attacking qualities with Simeone, believing the visitors were particularly effective in those situations this season.
“We knew that if the match went on for a long time, we would have opportunities, and that is what happened. The shame is that we didn’t take ours, because when you play against a team of this calibre, you have to score the chances you get.”
The Espanyol coach was especially disappointed that his team conceded from a corner after defending for so long. He also pointed to similar late setbacks against Málaga and Real Madrid, insisting that his players must learn to manage such moments better.
Despite the defeat, González believed the performance offered encouragement. He was pleased with the commitment shown by his players and welcomed the return of Javi Puado, who came on late in the game.
Simeone acknowledged that Atlético had struggled to find the necessary finishing touch before the breakthrough.
“Against an organised, strong and committed team that defends every action as if it were the last, we had situations to score but lacked the decisiveness these matches demand,” he said.
The Atlético coach recalled further opportunities in the second half, including chances for Julián Álvarez and Marcos Llorente, before Baena found the decisive opening.
Simeone was particularly pleased with the midfielder’s form, explaining that injuries had prevented him from showing his best level last season.
“The World Cup took him to a different place. He sees football differently from others and is more confident and stronger. He is the player we went to get,” Simeone said, while adding that Atlético would need to manage his minutes carefully.
The coach also praised Jonathan David’s composure, saying the forward had shown the qualities Atlético had seen during his time in France.
The result extended Atlético’s winning run in LaLiga to five matches. For Espanyol, the performance offered hope, but the final action once again proved costly.