(Feb. 24, 2020 – Source: Getty Images Europe)
With topics such as Champions league draw to be discussed, Quique Setien spoke to the media electronically from the press room of the Ciutat Esportiva de Sant Joan Despi, before the clash with Real Valladolid at Estadio Jose Zorrilla.
The Cantabrian is in a difficult situation because his team is one point apart from Real Madrid, which has one game less, the one that today plays against Alavés at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium. With Champions League draw done today, which would match the club in the quarter finals against the winner of the tie between Chelsea and Bayern (0-3 London), if the Blaugranas are capable of eliminating Napoli after the 1-1 score at San Paolo.
“Actually I did not have many expectations because we have to focus on the Naples match, which is the key. We already know that we will play at home. It is something that is fair. From the rest of the draw we can analyze possible rivals but the first It is tomorrow’s game against Valladolid because we need all three points if we want to be there. Then Naples will come. ”
Winning the Champions league –
“Absolute. We focus on the priority of the parties. We will try to keep up and when the Champions League arrives we will try to do our best as well as the three remaining games to finish the championship. They are hypotheses that lead to nothing.”
Arthur and Frenkie missing the game against Valladolid –
“It is a specific event. If he trains well, he will have the opportunities ahead. Even if he doesn’t have minutes now, he can always have them later. His involvement is the same. He tries to give his best in each training session. Next week he will overcome this process he has and will return to calls. And even more now that some of the subsidiary are no longer going to be as you see in the call. We are going to need everyone.”
“It was worth it because we weren’t going to start. We have hesitated between taking it on a trip but we have thought that the best thing is that it really had good feelings. He’s been about to go. We preferred not to take risks and wait a few more days for the sensations to be excellent. Not good alone.”
The manager also talked about the possibility of having friendlies at the end of the league.
“We may do it. We will make a few days of vacation for the players to rest and then return. Maybe we will make some friendly but it can also be between us and because it is not easy to find a competitive team that can offer us what we want. We are going to play either with each other or there is a team out there that can cover these needs.”
Concerned about the game against Valladolid-
“I try to face the matches with the maximum demand. Valladolid are not completely safe from relegation yet and will try to do it in this match. You have to win yes or yes. You have to be focused and attentive. They are not going to make it easy for us. We will try that the demand is maximum and we give the level that we have to give. We may have to get to the last game to have the option of winning the League.”
Sergi Roberto as inside in last 2 games-
“He even helped us as a central defender. It is very versatile and can be played anywhere. Their predisposition is absolute and because for us, the coaches, having players like that is a relief. You never know where you need it at high performance. He really likes that position in the center of the field where he always played. In any of them it is worth us. I like all of them.”
The coach also talked about how the team has reacted in the post-confinement and Umtiti’s recent injury.
“It is abnormal but it has allowed us to recover players like Luis Suárez. This that has happened will serve us as an experience and I hope that it will never happen again. We have had to adapt to a situation in which no one Do you feel comfortable”.
“He is in an acute process of his problem. Even the doctors don’t know when he will be discharged.”
Playing against Naples at Camp Nou but without fans-
“Playing without an audience is a disadvantage. With the full stand it would have had a positive influence. It is what it is. It does not matter if I complain or not. There is no solution. We accept what it is. I would have liked to play with the public.”
Griezmann in the new system-
“It is possible that this novel situation has benefited him and he is more predisposed. He is an extraordinary player who must perform in any position and offer the qualities he has. In many games he has already done so. He agreed that everything went against Villarreal good and he has changed the chip for all of you. I was already happy with the performance of the many things that he can give. We have lacked that point of inspiration that we had in Villarreal. In many games we have lacked the right to face the rest of the minutes. We have had to suffer in many games.”
Matheus Fernandes-
“I saw him a couple of days ago. He is a good footballer. We will make decisions based on the opinion we have. There are many things to value.”
On Real Madrid-Alavés-
“Everything can happen in football. We have seen inexplicable things. We must focus on our own and wait for that opportunity that the rival we have ahead may fail.”
The manager also talked about his old managerial club, Real Betis appointing Manuel Pellegrini as their coach from next season.
“This is a subject that I am not going to comment on. I always wish Betis luck. It is a shame that he has not entered Europe. I suppose that signing Pellegrini is a thoughtful decision. I hope it will turn out very well for him.”
Physical Aspect of the team-
“The team is fine, the records are good.”
