Cristiano Ronaldo was the first player to face the music after Real Madrid's disappointing Copa del Rey exit. "On behalf of the team I'd like to say sorry. The fans were fantastic and spurred us on all game, but all we can say now is that we have to pick ourselves up because we're still in the running in the league and the Champions League and sometimes it's better to take one step back and then two forward. I don't mean that we didn't want to win the cup - we gave it a go - but there are two more important trophies still up for grabs".

The three-time Ballon d'Or winner insisted that he and the squad will bounce back. "Life is about more than goals! You can't always be 100%, I'm not from another planet. Maybe I'm not in my best form, but in two or three weeks the team and I will be flying again".

Ronaldo preferred to accentuate the positives from Thursday night's match: "We were amazing in the first half and if we keep playing like that, we're going to win a lot this year", he remarked, going on to stress his desire to make amends for the recent derby setbacks: "Hopefully 2015 will be different, I'm raring to beat them and to win the league at the Calderón".

Cristiano also knocked Atlético's style of play, while refusing to use this as an excuse for the cup result. "They don't play attractive football: they sit back and just wait for dead balls, but it works for them and you have to respect that. Everyone has their opinion, but I don't want to take anything away from them. We're focused on what we do".