Pablo Machín in the press room of the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán

First team

MACHÍN: "ÚJPEST ARE A PHYSICAL SIDE WITH PACE ON THE WINGS"

25/07/2018

The new manager seemed eager to make his Nervión debut: "I'm excited to experience the fans singing the anthem. For all visitors it's very striking and on the home bench it will be even more so"

Pablo Machín spoke to the media in the press room of the Sánchez-Pizjuán this Wednesday afternoon not long after finishing training in the stadium. The new manager seemed eager to make his official debut as manager: "Above all I'm really excited to hear the fans singing the anthem. For visitors it's very striking because it's an anthem that hits home but on the home bench it will mean even more. I know that it's the first match and we need to have a good game. I'm wanting to get the tie on track. The fans have shown many times that they are loyal and they know when the team needs them. Tomorrow will be like that and we will start a new project that's still a bit green. We need them to lift us and I think they'll be the twelfth player".

On injuries: "Navas was more of a precaution. We were cautious to avoid a setback but he's training normally now. Amadou is the opposite because he had a knock. He's undergone tests and the doctor will give us a prognosis to decide by. We have to be objective and know that the World Cup players have few training sessions. They won't be in the best condition but some of them might be able to come on and contribute".

"All teams deserve the respect we'll show Újpest. We have to dominate"

Turning his focus to the Hungarian side, Machín seemed wary: "All teamS deserve the respect we'll show them. They played a good and demanding tie and I'd say they're quite a physical side, with height and pace on the wings. They have a lethal number nine who dominates play with his back to goal and they will try to defend close to their box to come out on the counter. Knowing all that, we need to dominate and make sure those qualities don't show. These days, if you're at this stage, you're here on capability and merit. We take them as an opponent at a high level because if we don't we'd be giving them the advantage. The only way to come out is at 100% and with respect".

To finish up, he talked about his starting eleven: "My job is to have it thought out and thought out again. I'm clear about it, having based it on circumstances, the demands of the competition and the squad we have. The academy players are helping us a lot and they're going to continue helping us. I hope they can win their right to continue doing so not just in training sessions but on the field, which is where they want to be".