LOPETEGUI: "IN THE SUPER CUP WE WILL GO WITH THE HEALTHY INTENTION OF STARRING"

He also made reference to the club's motto, recognising it is more than just words, and how deeds are more important: "It's one thing to say you never give up, doing it is different. You can't do it just by saying it, the feelings of the team are more important than the words. We knew that we could not give up and not get it, but we could never stop trying and that is the best victory". 

Lopetegui also spoke about trying to maximise the little time that remains ahead of the first match: "We'll go as we have done so far, step by step. We've had very little time to rest but we won't complain. We'll work hard and change our battery to prepare for the Super Cup. Then La Liga will come. You have to face every difficulty whenever it comes and not think beyond that. We have to adapt to the new ones and convey to them the same as we did last year, knowing that we have to evolve". 

"It's one thing saying 'you never give up', doing it is different"

The mister is aware just how dangerous Bayern are, but he is still very ambitious: "You don't play in a UEFA Super Cup every day, less so against a side like Bayern, who brilliantly won the league, cup and the European Cup. It is a great team, with spectacular individual strength, a manager with a lot of merit for how he has turned it around, by giving personality to the team and a strong collective mentality. Definitively, right now they're the best in the world. We'll prepare for it with excitement, ambition, humility and with the knowledge that we don't want to tiptoe. We respect our opponents but we have ambition and excitement. We will go with the healthy intention of starring although it won't be easy".

He also spoke about the unity of the team: "I have a lot of confidence in my players. Our strength is our team spirit and when we show it, there are players who appear. I'll emphasise the commitment of all of them when they have given everything for the team. They have to keep going like this, because individually we can't achieve anything". He also highlighted Bono's effort: "He did not play a lot, but when we needed him we knew he was going to be ready. He worked hard, waited for his chance and has had his prize. To win you have to be accurate and Bono gave us that. Above all against Wolves, United and at times in the final". 

"Our strength is our team spirit. Individually we can't achieve anything"

Having an almost entirely new squad was more of an advantage than a hindrance: "We had 15 new players this season, it can appear to be a problem but we tried to make it an opportunity to quickly adapt to the idea. I think the lads accepted it well from the start and we tried to make it fit the conditions of each player. The team showed strength and a feeling of having played together longer. The merit of having developed it in this way and with this determination belongs to the players". 

He also spoke about the key to group management: "In the end, you have to lead, manage and convince players. If you don't convince them it's difficult for them to follow you. You have to argue, be understood and assume what you tell them as your own. Then you've got the human management with each players and moments for everything across the season. We give a lot of importance to those who've played less, because to achieve your aims they have to give you a lot of quality in training and a good atmosphere in the dressing room. It's not easy, because they're human and all want to play".