Copa del Rey
“We have to honour the Club. The Copa represents an opportunity to raise your hand and say, ‘I’m in great form.’ We know the challenges of these Copa matches, especially when you’re playing away.”
“The Copa is the tournament of epic moments and surprises. They, as the home team, will have the chance to write a beautiful story. But beyond that, it’s a football match. We have to match them in enthusiasm, feel that we have to play the game with excitement and respect, and that’s where our opportunities will begin.”
Great opportunity
“The idea has to be that the Copa serves us. It can’t be seen as a burdensome situation or a tedious moment, but rather from a different perspective. A great opportunity for players to get minutes and a situation that can be used for many things. Some players will be able to play for the first time, others to accumulate more minutes… We have to make the most of the match for a positive outcome.”
CF Talavera de la Reina
“Change of coach? That situation could arise. They are professional players, they have experienced different contexts, and they have enough capacity to adapt. They will have that strategic advantage, and a coaching change also brings extra motivation, but we have to overcome those advantages and, as the visiting team, adapt to the circumstances, the environment, the pitch, the fans, and how we adapt will be decisive.”
Immediate objectives
“We focus on this match, not the next one. We’ll have time, once we get past this round, to think about anything else. We set immediate goals. Otherwise, in the end, you get frustrated. Result-oriented goals either frustrate you or make you complacent. It’s our job to make players forget about that; the most important thing is the immediate objectives. Considering future scenarios isn’t good for the player.”
Adversity and conviction
“I really liked, looking at these two matches overall, that the team has faced adversity and kept fighting with conviction. That attitude is fundamental. When everything seems more difficult, staying firm in the plan allows you to achieve your objectives. The other day, the game went off course very quickly, and it’s normal to have doubts and feel more nervous; but as the minutes passed, the team grew.”