LOPETEGUI: "WE WILL APPROACH IT BY STRENGTHENING OUR VIRTUES AND BEING SOLID"

20/08/2020

The manager highlighted Inter's strength and the excitement of trying to win a sixth UEFA Europa League

Julen Lopetegui spoke alongside Joan Jordán and Nemanja Gudelj this evening at the official pre-match press conference ahead of the UEFA Europa League Final. The manager praised tomorrow's opponents and warned about their potential: "They are a very complete side, with great players and a very concrete way of playing, very much like a Conte side, being capable of attacking a lot without conceding chances. It says a lot about the difficulty of the match and we'll have to be very complete. We'll approach it as we always do, by strengthening our virtues and being a solid, supportive side who knows how to understand what happens at every a moment. A recognisable side who will give their best version, because Inter will demand that".

The manager acknowledges that the philosophy cannot be far removed from that of the matches played so far: "Humbleness and respect, the day that they aren't there, we're making a big mistake. We are aware that every detail of the final is important and not different to any other match of this kind, but the impact is different. We have to prepare for the game and be focused both offensively and defensively, ready to get through the difficulties that Inter will put us through. What drives us is the excitement, the ambition and the determination to play a great game. From there we'll see what happens, but we're focused on what we have to do".

He also acknowledged the Ocampos injury situation and did not want to talk about whether the squad are tired: "We'll wait until training today to see how he is. It's another day of preparation and tomorrow everyone has to be in optimal condition. Regarding tiredness, there's no space to think about anything that isn't showing our best side. We have the intention of beating whatever's in front of us and we'll try it with Inter by believing in ourselves and doing the only thing we can, show our best side".

"We'll wait to see how Ocampos is in training today"

Asked by Italian media whether he considered the Inter manager to be a typical Italian manager, he said that "he is an Italian manager, but I wouldn't say typically. He has personality and has imposed it on all his teams, many of them important ones. Inter play how their manager wants them to and they are full of players who are competing to win Serie A and the Champions League. We have full confidence in ourselves and lots of excitement, but I wouldn't any other qualifier on Conte".

The manager is calm and waiting patiently for kick off: "When it comes to the finals there are always a lot of hackneyed phrases that we can use, but what I can tell you is that we have that calm, that calmness to go into the match focused and balanced, we have worked hard to be able to play in this. We want to go into it well physically, mentally and balanced".

He is not expecting a match like the one against Roma in the Round of 16: "Roma and Inter aren't similar at all. No two sides are the same although they apparently play with a similar system. It will be totally different and we have to be ready for it". Finally, a word for the fans: "We've worked hard and fought to have this opportunity and it makes us excited. I hope they can enjoy tomorrow and without doubt it is for them. We're going to leave our lives on the pitch as we always do and they cannot doubt that".