Sergio Ramos insists Real Madrid will bounce back from their Super Cup disappointment when their La Liga campaign gets underway against Cordoba tomorrow night.
Los Blancos lost 1-0 to city rivals Atletico Madrid on Friday night, fading from a bright first-half display to succumb 2-1 on aggregate to Los Rojiblancos.
Defender Ramos, who was at fault for Mario Mandzukic’s goal, was in no mood to make excuses for the team’s poor performance, but promised a rapid reaction.
“Whenever we lose it is a shame,” he said. “But this defeat will pass and we will have brighter days. We’ve had to handle other defeats in the past and you can’t draw any conclusions.
“The first half saw us create good chances but finals are decided by small details. They went ahead early and took the game where they wanted.
“We have to carry on working. We are up for a successful season and we want the season to start.”
It remains unclear whether midfielder Sami Khedira will be in Madrid’s squad after he told German daily Bild, part of him has “already left” the Spanish club.
Meanwhile, Diego Simeone faces an anxious wait to discover when he will next be able to take his place in Atletico’s dug-out.
The Argentine is already due to be barred from leading his team in tomorrow’s league opener against Rayo Vallecano as a result of collecting his fifth booking of last season in the final day title decider at Barcelona.
He could face a much stiffer sanction after being sent off during the Super Cup for aggressively confronting fourth official Antonio Santos when defender Juanfran’s return to the action was delayed after treatment for injury.
Referee David Fernandez reported that Simeone “struck the fourth official on the head with an open hand on two occasions,” an offence which could lead to a maximum seven-game ban, although a more lenient verdict would see his suspension only applied in future Super Cup encounters.
Simeone said: “The tension got the better of me. I apologise to the referee if he took offence.”