Apoño’s statements:
(Next match). “It’s quite a long week. It’s fallen on us to play on Monday so we’ll use the extra day to learn from the mistakes of the previous match. Any game is great when you’re starting; we’re enthused about playing at La Rosaleda against Granada and about hopefully getting three points. I’m feeling great, 100 per cent physically, and at the disposal of the coach.”
(Jump in quality) “It’s always good to have quality people around you; it can make you take a jump up in quality too. The more good players you have around you, the better you can become. I love having such teammates and amongst us all we can move forward and have a great year. There’s competitiveness every year which is difficult for us all as we all want to play. I always try and train hard to be able to play well.”
(Granada) “I think Granada is a great team, deceptively so, but if you relax you can win any game. It has some quick, quality players that they signed-up at the last minute. We’re going to play the ball to death and try and walk away with three points. Our philosophy is going to change a little, we’re always going to try and be in possession of the ball and create opportunities and get the ball in as soon as possible.”
(The demands) “The challenge is a collective one - to get as far as possible and if we make it to UEFA or Champions, so much the better. The important thing is to go match by match, not giving anything to anyone. There are many new players in all positions that gradually have to be coupled up. But that’s not an excuse; we now have to be winning every game because there are many good individual players and we can win lots of games.”
(Positive pressure). No pressure at all, quite the opposite. We’re happy because they’re putting us ‘way on up there’ as they see us as good footballers and as a good team. There must be objectives, if not you relax when you play too much and that’s not good. Baptista being away? Whoever plays tries to do it well and gives their all in each match.”