Baena stresses Koke’s importance and the blow felt by the team

“It was a blow for us because Koke is our leader,” Álex Baena said after the match between Atlético de Madrid and Manchester United. The midfielder added that his teammate was also a reference point and an example for the group, and that his absence was keenly felt.

Baena said the team learned the news that morning when they gathered at the stadium. He felt the situation was also extremely difficult for Koke, describing it as one of the worst days of his life. Baena said he hoped his teammate could take a few days to process what had happened, then rejoin the group and receive support from his fellow players.

Baena’s individual recognition accompanied those comments: although he did not score, UEFA gave him the player of the match award. He spoke to Movistar after the game. He also said Manchester United had players capable of deciding a match on their own, while judging that his team had put in a good performance over 90 minutes, conceded little defensively and played well going forward.

Baena said he was in his best spell for a long time and felt confident. He stressed that he needed to keep working to maintain that form. Asked about a possible handball, he said he had not seen the incident: a teammate who was closer told him it looked like handball, but Baena declined to give an opinion.