Julen Lopetegui blames players after crushing 3-0 Sevilla defeat
Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui laid into his players after they were thrashed 3-0 by Sevilla on Wednesday night.
Madrid were humbled at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, suffering their first La Liga defeat of Lopetegui's reign.
Andre Silva scored twice as Sevilla comprehensively defeated the Champions League holders last night.
Gareth Bale hit the post and Sevilla's Franco Vazquez struck the bar at 2-0.
Wissam Ben Yedder volleyed home his sixth goal in three games to wrap up the game before half-time.
"The explanation is that we have played a bad game, with a bad start," Lopetegui said after the game.
"Sevilla imposed themselves and scored two goals, they started the game very well and we did not."
"In the second half we began better, we had the chances and some good openings."
"But we must accept the defeat and congratulate Sevilla, we have not been up for it."
"I do not think it was a matter of mentality, it's been various circumstances that caused us to lose the game."
Real Madrid thought they had pulled a goal back in their hopes of a comeback early in the second half, however, Luka Modric's goal was disallowed by VAR.
"The idea was to press high but it didn't come off like we'd hoped and we paid for it, particularly at the beginning."
"It'd be opportunistic to say we didn't prepare for the game adequately but it looks like that was the case."
"Neither the players nor the coach were at their best in the first half."
"If the goal early in the second half had stood, we would have had a chance."
Lopetegui's side must pick themselves up for Saturday's Madrid derby against Atletico.
Reining champions Barcelona are now ahead of Los Blancos on goal difference after six rounds.