First team

BERIZZO LOOKING TO "GIVE CONTINUITY TO AS MANY PLAYERS AS POSSIBLE"

31/10/2017

The coach stressed the importance of finishing off chances: "We have to finish our attacks, that's where counters come from"

Eduardo Berizzo spoke to the press ahead of tomorrow's Champions League fixture. The gaffer didn't hide his desire for revenge against Spartak Moscow, admitting tough losses like the one in Russia leave their mark: "Defeats stick in the memory as a wake-up call to what's coming, you can't live in the past, but the past can help put the future right... Tomorrow's match will require a lot of patience and calmness, we'll need to control proceedings, and we'll have to use the ball with a lot of care, leaving opponents behind us without exposing ourselves to counters. The Leganés game will serve as an example. We didn't have any chances against us and we were solid, defensively speaking".

He continued: "That frustration from a bad match translates to a transformative energy that pushes you from the pain of a bad defeat. Everything translates to a will to correct mistakes, to keep going, to work with your teammates and create a positive atmosphere so things go in your favour".

"We have to use the ball with a lot of care, without making ourselves vulnerable to counters"

Berizzo said he expects a Spartak side who: "are tight, closing spaces in behind and trying to capitalise on space for attackers going forwards - space for technical and quick players... We'll have to be careful to not lose the ball... We have to finish off our attacks, which is the main cause of counters when not done with dynamism and care".

On his side, he said: "our game plan is always the same, go out to dominate the ball, in Moscow that happened right up until the chance that could have put us in front. It could have put us 1-2 up but the very opposite happened".

"There will be 45,000 people wanting their team to win, we're a strong team at home and we'll make sure of that tomorrow"

What he's sure of is that "nobody is more motivated than us to win tomorrow, we won against Leganés in a difficult situation, we re-established our position in La Liga, and tomorrow could be the same with regards to the Champions League. Tomorrow's match is about character, intensity, perseverance and to show our spirit in order to prepare ourselves technically... There will be 45,000 people wanting their team to win, we're a very strong team at home and we'll make sure of that tomorrow".

Asked about adjustments to the starting eleven, Berizzo commented that the idea is to "give continuity to as many players as possible". That does not mean, however, that he will play the same team as he did for the Leganés clash, but that "if exhaustion permits, the idea is to give continuity to the team. If we find a situation on the pitch that balances us out, like with Pizarro and Nzonzi, not necessarily those names that fill the pitch, then from this security in the center midfield we can run on the wings with freedom..We need to select players who are in best shape ensuring that the team feels safe".

Speaking about his own players, the manager assured that Banega "is better, he wasn't on top form for the Leganés match, occasionally his natural movement on the pitch is limited by a previous injury and he is a player that needs to move with naturalness, he is in much better shape ahead of tomorrow's game, almost 100%".

"We need to select players who are in best shape ensuring that the team feels safe and secure"

With regards to the choice of goalkeeper he commented: “The decision will be made tomorrow, we've wanted to wait until the last possible moment to decide, I wanted to give matches to David because his injury has impacted on his continuity, but Sergio is a safe option, he's used to matches like this one".

The manager was also questioned about Pablo Sarabia: "Pablo, both in the Cup and the other day has demonstrated himself as a player that brings the best out of his teammates, he is versatile and allows the team to have an attacking and defensive presence. He is a player that provides you with resources. In one player you find a lot of solutions".

Finally, when evaluating how the past two weeks have been received by those who played in important defeats, he said: "It reaffirms my idea that in football, you need to win to live in peace but when you don't win, and you have to get through a week like the one we went through, you have to persevere and stand by your principles without listening to everybody else. I read criticisms and praise but when bad things happen you have to trust your principles because the strength you show in those moments definitely strengthens the team".