First team

CAPARRÓS: 'THE PLAYERS KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE HAVING TO COME BACK FROM THEIR HOLIDAYS SO EARLY'

17/05/2019

The coach, rejecting that he would take a point on Saturday, is expecting an open and intense game against Athletic Bilbao

Joaquín Caparrós offered his last pre-match press conference of the season this Friday ahead of Saturday's match at home against Athletic Bilbao: 'We want to have a good finish because being sixth or having to play three qualifying rounds is on the line. Finishing in seventh would be a real blow - the players already know what it's like to return so soon. It's going to be a physical game against a strong team. It will be open and I hope it goes better than the match against Leganés. Both of us are going out to win. Knowing Athletic and their players as I do, it will be an open game. Nothing is agreed beforehand in football.'

To finish fourth would require an extreme stroke of luck and Caparrós is only focused on his team doing their part: 'We could write an encyclopedia with the crazy things that have happened in football. We want to end the season well and it's a shame we have to depend on other teams.' Furthermore, he was asked about what may be his last game in charge of the first team: 'It's another game - I'm focused and preparing for it as best I can. But then we have another one in Tanzania.'

Athletic's intense football may be a problem for the team and Caparrós acknowledged this: 'We suffered against Girona and Getafe with that kind of game. Our intention is that those experiences help us to grow but it's a hard game to combat when you have different characteristics.' The coach stated that there will be forced rotation tomorrow: 'We hope that those who play tomorrow, even if they have played fewer minutes than others, perform. If they're here it's because they're good players. They have to face up to any situation and the competition is very long, you always have to be able to rely on your squad.'

We hope that those who play tomorrow, even if they have played fewer minutes than others, perform tomorrow

After many months in the Champions League spots, the coach admits the team has a bitter taste in their mouths: 'It's a disappointment because, after falling away, we got back into the race again. We can't be happy with that but we will wait until next week to evaluate things. In other countries, failure can mean growth.'

To finish, he was asked about André Silva and his declarations to A Bola: 'It's normal for him to respond. I didn't say he's a bad professional, just that we wouldn't be happy watching him play with the national team. It's logical he would defend himself - we've spoken personally and we have a player-coach relationship.'