Statements from Pellegrini
(Liga and Cup) “It’s not normal to play two games in 48 hours, we’ll see which team will face Getafe in the Copa del Rey, after the match against Osasuna. We’re looking to playing the best we can to defeat Osasuna, then concentrate on the Copa del Rey. We think the team will be in the best possible form for this match”.
(Osasuna) “They’re getting good results, they’re seventh in the league table. Not only do we need to concentrate on their strategy, but also their game. Teams need to be structured so there’s the possibility of change, this is how it has to be”.
(Last defeat) “We have to look beyond the result and focus on the game play. Looking at the match against Real Sociedad, it was a match we were sure about, but following several counts of controversial play, we were left with an unexpected result. Each game is individual, the same players that were heroes against Getafe, are looking at the other side of the coin this time. It was a defeat we weren’t expecting at this point in the season”.
(Expectations) “In the 14 matches we’ve played, in 11 or 12 we’ve been in Europe. We know the team is capable of achieving our objectives, especially looking at our position in the league. In matches against teams like Osasuna, who are below us in the table, we want to gain the three points at home and move further up”.
(Madrid-Barça) “It’ll be a great match, they’re the best two teams in the world with fantastic players. I have no basis on which to comment on this game”.
(Possible signings) “Everything is just speculation, nothing has as yet been confirmed with regards to any names. We’ll do a full evaluation when the time is right, we’re now playing the championships, we’ll look at this again when everything is finished on the 21st of December”.
(Intensity) “I don’t know if it’s cost us goals – my way of thinking is that every game is complicated, and you need to play with maximum intensity, both in defence and attack, for the 90 minutes. I hope we’ll play like this against Osasuna and get three points”.