LOPETEGUI: "THE NUANCE OF THIS GAME IS IN HOW WOLVES WILL COMPETE"

10/08/2020

"Roma and Wolves are nothing like each other. They are totally different in style of play"

Julen Lopetegui spoke alongside Diego Carlos in the official UEFA Europa League pre-match press conference, just over 24 hours before the quarter final. The Basque manager started by talking about the clear potential of the English side: "The only thing that worries me is our opponents, they are tremendous, with excellent footballers and they have been playing the same way for a long time, they're very solid. They are all top-level players and they are all top level players and within a dynamic of continuous work, with solidity and clarity as a team. That's what we're concerned with because that's going to be the difficulty. They are complex and difficult because of their way of competing. Tomorrow's match has its nuances, like all matches, and we have to push our work and our virtues to the limit. They soundly knocked out Olympiacos, who had just beaten Arsenal".

"This is a Europa League quarter final against a team that comes into this on the back of being level on points with Tottenham in the Premier League. It will be very hard-fought, it will go to the limit and will be very even. We're focused on playing well amidst the difficulty and we will take to the limit that excitement that we have to overcome tomorrow's difficulties. Roma and Wolves are nothing like each other. They are totally different in style of play and in many other things, with two different matches. Every match has a nuance and this one is very clear, it's in how they will compete. In that line, we have to focus, be ready, believe in ourselves and want to reach the next round".

"They got into Europe last season, this year they haven't because of goals, and they have invested a lot in brilliant players for the present and future. I think this is their manager's third season and they have solidity. They are at a very high level and have got important results against the important sides in England".

"The team is going into this with excitement, and are focused, with the normal tension for a definitive match in a competition which is different to what it always has been. The season has obliged us to adapt and compete with mentality. I wouldn't single out anyone. Fernando played the other day recovering from his knock and was at a high level, but that's in the past. The present is the match against Wolves and we're focused on that".