First team

ROQUE MESA: 'WE WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE AND KILL THE TIE OFF IF POSSIBLE'

22/08/2018

The midfielder was interviewed by the Offical Media just after landing in the Czech Republic to analyse this Thursday's game against Sigma Olomouc in the away leg of the Europa League Play-off Round.

Thursday's match against Sigma Olomouc in the Czech Republic is a key one, where Pablo Machín's team will play the first of their two matches in the Play-off Round. Roque Mesa is aware of this game's importance, a game in which 'we want to be competitive and put in a good performance so we can kill the tie off if possible. We know it'll be difficult, but we're going to try to play our game and get the win. It'll be difficult because they play well at home, but we will try to win and we'll see what happens. But we're confident we'll do our job.'

'We'll try to do our job so things will be easier in the home leg'

Especially when it comes to securing such a convincing win like last Sunday's over Rayo Vallecano in the first league match of the season: 'Your confidence is at its highest when you win. We'll try to do our job so things will be easier in the home leg.'

Machín has kept players such as Franco Vázquez, Kjaer and Mercado at home for the away leg: 'Managing the group is going to be key for our league campaign so that everyone's in the best condition. He knows what he has to do and we have to work and whoever's out there on the pitch has to give their all and try to get the win.

'There's enough quality in this team to pick his ideas up as quickly as possible'

In terms of the new coaching team, Roque Mesa confirmed, 'we know how we should play and what he wants. There's enough quality in this team to pick his ideas up as quickly as possible and we're picking them up as we go. We want to play well right from the off, try to score a goal as soon as we can and be determined throughout the match,' he added regarding the attitude the team has for every match facing them.

Finally, he was asked about the new faces, such as Gonalons, presented this Monday and who travelled to Olomouc with the rest of the squad: 'As long as they bring something to the team it's good for the team as a whole. We'll welcome him as best we can so he adapts quickly and can help us out right from the start.