MENDILIBAR: "WE HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO COMPETE LIKE THEY DO"

After Marcos Acuña spoke to the media, it was José Luis Mendilibar's turn to offer his thoughts on tomorrow's UEFA Europa League Semi Final First Leg away at Juventus. 

To begin, he stated "Of course I'm excited. I'm new to all this and I have to thank the players, they're not new to this and they're the ones who have to take the match forward. I'm calm. Excited, of course, but I'm not going crazy."

"The key may be to be calm at all times, to know how to enjoy the game minute by minute and not go crazy. It's not going to be the same as in Manchester, because it's an Italian team and basically they've gone from the bottom to the top and they've competed well. We have to know how to compete like they do."

After seven goals in the previous round, the Basque coach doesn't believe the same will happen in this round: "It's not easy for there to be so many goals in a knockout tie. The winning margins are slim in the latter rounds and you don't give so much to your opponent.

Normally they take advantage of the chances they get and the risk may be wanting to push too far forward, or thinking you're dominating and they take advantage. They will go out to win straight from the start here and I hope that it's an open game."

As for team selection, he confirmed that "there will be players with knocks, but I know how they'll be and how they are. I've got my team in mind and a lot will have to happen in today's training session and even up until kick-off tomorrow for me to change it."

"I've got my team in mind"

At this point in the season, Mendilibar also believes that "there is more to the mental aspect than fitness. At this point, it's not easy to be well physically because there have been so many matches, and some of them have had the World Cup. You have to think about the mental aspect and believe that you're ok and better than the opponents. We make an effort in making them believe they're better than the team in front of them."

On an individual level, he spoke about his happiness to have this opportunity: "I'm living a dream. I've been treating the training sessions normally and I'm not going mad thinking about the opponents. I'm thinking more about my players, getting the ones with knocks available and nothing else. They have given me reason to think that I can trust them. Any team can beat you and we can beat anyone. Juve too."

As for tomorrow's hosts, he thinks that "they have lots of good players in attack but they're good defensively. They have a good three-man defence with two wing-backs, and midfielders who it's tough to create problems for. Everyone talks about Di María and Vlahovic, but I also emphasise their defensive strength with their centre-backs, wing-backs and midfielders."

As for a prediction, he commented that "we'll see how everything plays out. In the 20th minute in Manchester I'd have taken a 2-0 loss and we drew 2-2. After the match I'll tell you if I'd have taken a draw or not."

To finish, he spoke about what he thinks regarding how he is seen by the fans and the press: "The results are what they are and it would be difficult to say otherwise. At the end of the day, everyone speaks after the matches and results. It would be hard to speak badly, but with that I don't wish to add anything else."