"The problem is we aren't consistent in our play, we have to fix that, you can't have one day [playing well] and another not, a champion team does not do that, Mbappe told reporters. We deserve to be in this situation today. Benfica were better. Now we have to play two more playoff games. It hurts to have to play those. We wanted to have the time in February to work on our game."
"I think it's a bit of everything. I can't tell you it's just a matter of attitude, because if I only say that, you'll think we came here without any desire, said the French superstar, who scored twice in the defeat. If I tell you it's a football issue, you'll think the team is bad. No, I think it's a broader issue, and in the Champions League, every detail matters if you want to beat your opponent."
Real Madrid, a record 15-time European champion, finished ninth in the Champions League group stage after a 4-2 defeat at Benfica and must now contest playoff ties in February against Benfica or Bodo/Glimt. The team had enjoyed three straight wins under new coach Alvaro Arbeloa but regressed in Lisbon. Inconsistent performances and a lack of sustained focus were cited as the core problems, with players acknowledging the need to fix form and attention to detail. The result denied extra preparation time in February and increased pressure to win two playoff matches. Fans were urged to support the team at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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