'Mistakes cost us' admits Olariou

FC Steaua Bucuresti coach Cosmin Olariou admitted his side were punished for mistakes after losing 4-1 to Real Madrid CF in UEFA Champions League Group E. Goals from Sergio Ramos, Raúl González, Robinho and Ruud van Nistelrooy secured the points for Madrid, with Valentin Badea's lone strike for Steaua failing to mask, according to Olariou, the gulf between the teams. Madrid coach Fabio Capello, meanwhile, praised his side's "quality and spirit" after they put a poor recent run behind them with a superb display.

Cosmin Olariou, Steaua coach
I expected them to play like this because the real Madrid are not the team that lost against Getafe [CF]. We began well, with enthusiasm, but the mistake that led to their first goal ended our dreams. I have to admit that Madrid are capable of that extra gear that we don't have and we couldn't keep pace with them. We only started to play when we had nothing to lose at the end and it's unfortunate that we couldn't play like that througout the match. At this level the smallest mistake is punished and we made several and were made to pay for them. We are playing in the Champions League for the first time in ten years and we want to see where we are and what kind of players we need for this level. We will take positives from the game and work on our faults. We will continue to fight until the end of the group stage but now we have more chance of finishing third than second. In each group the outsiders find the Champions League difficult and we are not prepared for such a high level.

Fabio Capello, Madrid coach
Today I saw a Real Madrid team with quality and spirit, a group whose players help each other. I knew we had quality but today I saw also the spirit. The players put their last match behind them and their morale is much better now which will help us prepare for the important matches ahead. I think our best player was Robinho. He had a very good game, like all the players, but when a forward like him plays like that he lifts the entire team. Steaua are a very good side, they run a lot, fight hard, press and are dangerous in attack but it must be said that today they played against an excellent Real Madrid. My players still relaxed too much and that's why we conceded the goal.