Real Madrid paid
the price for their midweek Champions League exertions as they slipped to a 1-0
defeat at home to Deportivo Coruna in the Primera Liga on Sunday.
"We felt the effects of the fightback we needed against Roma," said coach
Mariano Garcia Remon, whose side had overturned a 2-0 deficit against the
Italians to win 4-2. "That took a great amount of effort.
"We managed to move the ball well in the first half against Deportivo but if we
were slow in the second half it was because of that effort in midweek."
Real's defeat was a second in three league games since Garcia Remon was drafted
in as an emergency replacement for Jose Antonio Camacho.
The nine-times European champions are now in 10th place, seven points behind
league leaders Barcelona and with two tricky matches to come, away to Real Betis
and at home to champions Valencia.
"The players fought hard and played well but everything went against us," the
coach lamented.
Michael Owen was given a rare start in place of the injured Ronaldo but the
England striker failed to make an impact and was substituted early in the second
half after complaining of a muscle problem.
"The doctors told us he had a problem and we decided not to force it," said
Garcia Remon.
